(TAP) - The Kingdom of the Netherlands said Friday it has donated 160 improved beds for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

This aid is part of the Tunisian national strategy to fight against COVID-19 and the cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In a press release published by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tunisia, 110 new beds will be placed in a field hospital, while 50 emergency room beds will be equipped with oxygen facilities.

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Tunisia, Antonius Lansink said: "besides our continued cooperation with Tunisia, I am proud that my government has made these additional funds available to support Tunisia in a very concrete way in these critical times".

WHO Representative in Tunisia, Dr Yves Souteyrand said "Tunisia is currently facing a major pandemic with a risk of saturation of the health system which could have serious consequences for the population.

Strengthening the Tunisian health system by increasing the number of beds available to minimise preventable deaths due to COVID-19 has therefore become urgent".

He added that the lessons learned from the beginning of the pandemic have shown that early hospitalisation of severe cases of COVID-19 with oxygen therapy can save lives.