YAMOUSSOUKRO -- The Ivorian Air Force has taken delivery of a pair of second-hand helicopters to assist the country in responding to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

DefenceWeb reported on April 1 that Ivory Coast has received a pair of second-hand Mi-8P transport helicopters. The two helicopters, which were reportedly built prior to 1993, were seen on their ferry flight to Abidjan in mid-March. The Mi-8Ps bear the registrations TU-VHL and TU-VHN.

The report did not specify the origin of the helicopters.

Ivory Coast will use the transport helicopters to help the country in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Close to 900,000 cases of the virus have been reported globally as of Wednesday, with around 45,000 deaths. The Ivory Coast has 179 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, which has been monitoring the number of cases around the world. The first death from the virus came late last month.

In a press statement on March 30, the humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières said that Ivory Coast has "recently entered the stage of local transmission" of the virus, prompting the government to enact measures to restrict the movement of people. Schools and businesses have been closed in an effort to limit person-to-person interaction that might spread the virus.

The Mi-8Ps, as well as existing aircraft in the country's inventory, will assist the government's coronavirus response through providing medical evacuation.

Source: defenceWeb
Associated URL: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/military-helicopters/ivory-coast-receives-second-hand-mi-8ps/