Modi urges SAARC nations to build strategy to fight coronavirus

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged the SAARC leaderships for chalking out a strong strategy to fight the deadly coronavirus that had so far claimed 5000 lives globally along with 3,176 in China, the epicenter of the disease.

“I would like to propose that the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus. We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy,” he tweeted today.

Modi said, “Together, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet as our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus”.

The Indian Premier said that at various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat the coronavirus outbreak. “The South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population, should leave no stone unturned to ensure our people are healthy,” he added.

Hour after Modi’s tweet, leaders of four South Asian nations-Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives- gave reply supporting the Indian premier’s proposal towards collective efforts against the coronavirus outbreak that had spread over 121 countries and territories infecting over 134,300 people.

In a tweet message, Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that his government is ready to work with the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member states to protect the people in the region from the disease.

He welcomed the idea of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for chalking out a strong strategy to fight the deadly coronavirus.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that his country is ready to join the discussion and share its learning and best practices to combat the outbreak.

“Thank you for the great initiative Shri@narendramodi-#LKA is ready to join the discussion & share our learning and best practices and to learn from other #SAARC members. Let’s unite in solidarity during these trying times and keep our citizens safe”, he tweeted.

Besides, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said he has no doubt that under PM Modi’s leadership the region will see immediate and impactful outcomes.

President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s proposal to take a joint initiative by the SAARC nations to combat coronavirus.

“Thank you PM@narendramodi for taking the initiatives on this important endeavour. Covid-19 requires a collective effort to defeat it. Maldives welcome the proposal and would fully support such a regional effort,” he wrote on the mocro-blogging site.

“This is what we call leadership. As members of the region, we must come together in such times. Smaller economies are hit harder. So, we must coordinate. Looking forward for video conferencing,” he tweeted hours after Modi’s tweet.

The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has risen to 5,043 globally, according to an AFP tally based on official sources today. Of the total, 3,176 people have died in mainland China, followed by 1,016 in Italy, and 514 in Iran — the three countries with the highest number of deaths.

However, a total of 81 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in India so far out of which 64 are Indians and the rest are foreign nationals, according to latest data provided by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today.