An Indian investor named Ashok Kumar, who heads the Guangzhou Hammer Group, provided 24,000 N95 masks and at least 1,000 hazmat suits to the public health directorate of Herat to aid efforts against the coronavirus in the province.

“This assistance reached the country through Iran and China,” said Saad Khatibi, head of an aid organization in Herat, adding that thousands of other pieces of medical equipment were also part of the aid package.

Herat's public health director Abdul Hakim Tamanna said the aid comes at a critical time.

“We asked for aid. Such equipment is not found easily in markets and we are faced with a shortage. This equipment is urgently needed in Herat’s coronavirus centers,” said Tamanna.

Herat's governor Sayed Wahid Qatali said the government’s fund for the coronavirus response will also arrive soon.

“All required equipment that was considered two months ago has been approved by their procurement process, which is about to be finalized,” Qatali said, adding that the government has allocated Afs195 million ($2.5 million) for his province.

The Indian businessman also helped 1,000 families in Herat a month ago, according to his aides.