A C-17 transport plane at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Protective equipment is in short supply in Britain. Getty Images
A C-17 transport plane at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Protective equipment is in short supply in Britain. Getty Images
A C-17 transport plane at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Protective equipment is in short supply in Britain. Getty Images
A C-17 transport plane at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Protective equipment is in short supply in Britain. Getty Images

Coronavirus: Vital UK PPE supplies held up by Turkish red tape


Thomas Harding
  • English
  • Arabic

British hospitals need a substantial military airlift to fly in desperately needed equipment to protect medical staff from the coronavirus.

The situation is becoming increasingly urgent after paperwork in Turkey has delayed the export of 400,000 protective gowns. Three RAF transport planes are on standby for immediate take off once the Turkish authorities release the personal protection equipment (PPE) that was expected to arrive on Sunday.

The British military currently has a C17 Globemaster, capable of airlifting 77,000kg, and two Atlas A400M, each with a 37,000kg cargo capacity, on standby at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. It would take the aircraft a total of at least 12 hours to fly to Turkey, refuel, load up and return to Britain.

Two previous RAF airlifts from Turkey have taken place under a Nato reciprocal medical supplies agreement but the current consignment is part of a bilateral deal.

The NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across healthcare, said delays on the shipment from Turkey have made “a difficult situation worse”. Doctors and nurses working on the front-line against Covid-19 are now running short of gowns, masks and visors.

National Health Service chiefs are becoming increasingly frustrated at the government’s failure to deliver on their promises of equipment. Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers which is trying to procure the kit, said there was now “no doubt” that hospitals had a shortfall of gowns for staff treating Covid-19 victims.

“We are told that this consignment is still stuck in Turkey with no certainty on how many gowns, if any, will leave for the UK and when,” Mr Hopson said.

With the NHS using more than 150,000 of the single-use gowns a day, stocks will potentially run out by the end of the week even if the delivery of 400,000 arrives from Turkey in the coming days. Some medical staff are threatening to refuse to work unless they are properly equipped.

A government minister said Britain was “working very hard” to resolve the issue but added there had been “challenges at the Turkish end”.

"I don't want to start making more and more promises but I understand that the flight will take off this afternoon and those gowns will be delivered," Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, told the BBC.

Mr Dowden added that Britain was working in “a competitive global environment” to secure equipment that is urgently needed by other countries. With more than 750,000 people diagnosed with the virus, America is foremost in trying to buy PPE in the world market.

Despite this, Britain still hopes to import 25 million gowns from China which the minister said would arrive “shortly”. Currently, British industry is not in a position to mass produce garments domestically.

A Government spokesperson said: “We are continuing to work to ensure the shipment is delivered as soon as possible”.

With 120,000 cases and more than 16,000 deaths, Britain is heading towards the highest Covid-19 fatality count in Europe. The government is facing increased criticism for its lack of preparation and slow response to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, continues to recuperate from the illness and is not expected back at work until next month.

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Takreem Awards winners 2021

Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)

Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)

Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)

Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)

Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)

Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)

Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)

Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)

Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)

Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)

Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)

Pakistan T20 series squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shahzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammed Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Amir Yamin, Mohammed Amir (subject to fitness clearance), Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin

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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

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Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

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Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

The stay

Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com

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Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15

Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered

UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered

Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered

Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered

Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered

Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered

About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

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Essentials

The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.

About Housecall

Date started: July 2020

Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech

# of staff: 10

Funding to date: Self-funded

Basquiat in Abu Dhabi

One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier. 

It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.  

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Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October

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The distance learning plan

Spring break will be from March 8 - 19

Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm

Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19

Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning

Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5

FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

How it works

Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.

Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.

As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.

A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.

Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.

'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams 
Penguin Randomhouse

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MATCH INFO

Karnataka Tuskers 110-5 (10 ovs)

Tharanga 48, Shafiq 34, Rampaul 2-16

Delhi Bulls 91-8 (10 ovs)

Mathews 31, Rimmington 3-28

Karnataka Tuskers win by 19 runs