Indonesia suffers oxygen shortage amid COVID-19 surge

Conservative News DailyJuly 11, 2021

People wait for their turn to refill their oxygen tanks at a recharging station in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Southeast Asia country is running out of oxygen as it endures a devastating wave of coronavirus cases. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:45 PM PT – Sunday, July 11, 2021

Indonesia has requested aid from other countries as the nation suffered a shortage of oxygen. Reports on Saturday confirmed the Southeast Asian country asked other nations for emergency supplies amid a surge in coronavirus cases, including Singapore and China.

Indonesia’s top COVID-19 official announced the country plans to purchase 36,000 tons of oxygen and 10,000 concentrators from Singapore. The U.S. and the United Arab Emirates have also offered assistance.

.@TheRSAF’s C-130 delivered medical supplies to help the TNI and Indonesia deal with the #COVID19 pandemic. The RSN’s LST will also sail off soon to deliver compressed oxygen cylinders. Our hearts and prayers are joined with them as they deal with this new wave of infections. pic.twitter.com/QumqCyWeR3

— Ng Eng Hen (@Ng_Eng_Hen) July 9, 2021

The daily demand for oxygen has reached 1,928 tons per day, which has neared the government’s output capacity of 2,262 tons per day. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced the nation’s plans to send oxygen-related medical equipment, rapid-antigen tests, and AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Indonesia. The shipment arrived in Indonesia on Friday.

Meanwhile, officials say hospitals have been swamped as the numbers of patients waiting to receive emergency care continues to grow.