BERLIN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 10.3 million face masks have been flown from China to Germany on Monday by Bundeswehr, the German Federal Armed Forces.
The Bundeswehr was planning to bring a total of 25 million "urgently needed" face masks to the country, German Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced on Twitter.
Kramp-Karrenbauer was at the airport in Leipzig when the Bundeswehr cargo plane, an Antonov An-225, the largest cargo plane in the world, arrived. She told broadcaster ntv that the masks would now be distributed across Germany's states.
"Normally, these planes are used to bring large equipment from Afghanistan, from Mali to the missions or to bring it there," said Kramp-Karrenbauer.
According to the Bundeswehr, the "airlift" consists of a total of three cargo flights. A first transport aircraft with over 8 million face masks had already reached Leipzig on Sunday. The final delivery with more than 6 million protective masks is expected on Wednesday.
In most German states, face masks or an equivalent mouth-and-nose cover have become mandatory on Monday when people travel by bus or train or go for shopping. Enditem
