* 45 tonnes of medical equipment and supplies sent to Tunisia, Algeria, Rwanda and Nepal by Qatar Airways

Qatar, represented by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), on Wednesday sent four shipments of urgent medical assistance to Tunisia, Algeria, Rwanda and Nepal in support of the efforts of friendly governments to confront and contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a statement, QFFD said a total of 45 tonnes of medical equipment and supplies were sent to the four countries. The medical aid was transported by Qatar Airways.

QFFD director-general Khalifa Jassim al-Kuwari stressed that the "medical assistance provided by Qatar to the friendly countries is an embodiment of solidarity and co-operation with brothers and friends, and it also comes within the context of global efforts to combat the spread of the pandemic".

He added that the aid "comes from the duty of joint international responsibility and in support of international efforts to stop the spread of the virus".

The aid complements the urgent medical assistance provided by the State to brotherly and friendly countries through QFFD, with Qatar providing urgent support to several brotherly and friendly countries such as Iran, Lebanon and Italy, with the aim of extending a helping hand to overcome the coronavirus crisis that has swept the world.