EU pledges 250m euros to Tunisia's coronavirus fight

The EU has granted Tunisia hundreds of millions of euros to stave off adverse socioeconomic effects of its Covid-19 lockdown.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

28 March, 2020

A Tunisian woman flashes the victory sign while producing medical masks [Getty]

The EU announced Saturday that it would grant 250 million euros (220m GBP) to Tunisia to help fight the deadly new coronavirus and the adverse socioeconomic effects of a lockdown.

The bloc's enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi pledged the aid in a telephone call with Tunisia's foreign minister Noureddine Erray, according to a joint statement by the EU delegation in Tunis and the ministry.

Tunisia has so far declared eight deaths from the Covid-19 respiratory disease, among 257 people confirmed to have been infected by the virus.

A nighttime curfew came into effect on March 18, and daytime restrictions were imposed last Sunday, limiting movements to those of "extreme necessity".

The measures including the closure of its land border with Algeria for the first time in the history of the two countries.

The closure of borders did not include commercial crossings, which remain open for the transport of goods.

Tunisia also banned entry to UK travellers, suspended flights and closed sea borders, while cultural and sporting activities are prohibited.

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