Published 13:39 IST, January 30th 2021
Trump sent 8,700 ventilators worth $200 mn worldwide that can't be found now: Watchdog
US Agency for International Development has been trying to locate the ventilators which were dispatched to 43 different countries through Sept. 30, 2020.
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US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on January 29 said in a report that at least 8,722 ventilators that Trump ministration sent to or countries that were worth $200 million to help m respond to COVID-19 cant be traced. United States ncy for International Development has been trying to locate ventilators which were dispatched to 43 different countries through Sept. 30, 2020, in an initiative started by former President Donald Trump who spent $200 million on global ventilator push, according to a report published Thursday by Government Accountability Office found that USAID.
“Since vember 2020, number of COVID-19 cases in U.S. has rapidly increased, furr straining health care systems across country. Between December 31, 2020, and January 13, 2021, new reported COVID-19 cases averd about 225,000 per day—over 7 and 3 times higher than surges nation experienced in 2020,” GAO report stated, sighting need to ramp up availability of ventilating machines.
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“Country continues to experience serious ecomic repercussions and turmoil,” report said, ding that GAO was making 13 recommendations to federal ncies to improve recovery efforts to dress critical gaps in medical supply chain. Furrmore, watchdog n alleged that Trump ministration lent mechanical ventilators to several nations across globe with clear criteria for determining who should get m, and w, re was means to keep track of where many ended up. GAO condemned US ncy for International Development, which carried out ministration's orders for lack of its decision-making.
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Trump called US 'king of ventilators'
Former President Trump h declared US as " king of ventilators,” as he manufactured machines domestically in large quantities and donated to foreign countries with record—whatsoever. distribution strategy was also found highly flawed as countries with minimum cover cases were donated ventilators in huge numbers. Sri Lanka, for instance, h just three new coronavirus cases per day and Trump ministration dispatched 200 ventilators. While Banglesh with alarming 1,409 new cases was sent only 100. Small nations such as Nauru and Kiribati, which reported zero cases, received ventilator donations. re was rhyme or reason in strategy to distribute machines worldwide, a USAID official told Devex on condition of anymity. effort, despite coordination with National Security Council, lacked direction.
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13:42 IST, January 30th 2021