German shipment of 6 million masks goes missing in Kenya

The defence ministry in Berlin on Tuesday, March 24, confirmed that a German army shipment of six million face masks “vanished” in Kenya.

Though it is not clear why the shipment which had protective gear was transiting via the east African country, it was, however, due to arrive in Germany on March 20.

The German army’s procurement office plagued in normal times by equipment shortages and breakdowns is providing the health ministry with logistical support during the coronavirus crisis.

News weekly Der Spiegel which reported earlier that the masks went missing at a Kenyan airport at the end of last week, said the missing mask shipment was one of the first major deliveries needed to gird Germany’s health system for its battle against the coronavirus.

The defence ministry spokeswoman who confirmed the disappearance of the masks, affirmed that the German government would not suffer a financial loss on the lost shipment as payment for the masks had been due on delivery.

She said;

“We are trying to find out what happened to the massive order of protective equipment meeting the FFP2 standard for protection against particles and aerosols”

Robert Koch Institute disease control authority on Tuesday March 24, disclosed that the country had 27,436 confirmed virus infections, an increase of almost 5,000 over the tally on Monday March 23.