KUWAIT: Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) is supporting Kuwait embassies abroad to meet demands of Kuwaiti citizens amidst spread of coronavirus, KPI President and CEO Sheikh Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah said Tuesday. KPI Operations office in northwest Europe has purchased sanitizers and masks, and gave them to Kuwait embassies in Paris, France, and the Hague, Netherlands, to be distributed to Kuwaiti citizens, Sheikh Nawaf said in a press statement. He said this process was part of KPI's contribution to helping all government bodies whether in or outside Kuwait.

Sheikh Nawaf said the world was experiencing difficult and unstable circumstances due to the spread of coronavirus. KPI, known by its Q8 logo, was established in 1983 as the international marketing arm of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). The company owns and operates a huge network of gas stations in European countries. KPI supplies aircraft fuel, manufacture and market lubricants as well as managing refineries.

Italy's victims
Separately, the Kuwaiti Embassy in Rome on Tuesday took part in a symbolic event in Italy mourning thousands of victims of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Kuwaiti Ambassador to Italy Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al-Sabah paid tribute to the virus victims in front of the Kuwaiti Embassy at 12:00 am (local time) as part of the nationwide event called by Italian provinces.

Sheikh Azzam said the embassy's participation in the event reflects its heartfelt and human sentiments and sympathies with the families of the COVID-19 victims in Italy. The ambassador affirmed that the leadership and people of Kuwait stand side by side with the Italian government and people in this calamity, and backs ongoing great efforts exerted by Italy to curb the spread of this respiratory virus.

Italian flags were flown at half-mast over the Republican Palace and municipal buildings, with mayors observing g a one-minute silence, with flags of Italy hanging from balconies and windows and churches ringing the mourning bells nationwide. Recent statistics put the number of infections with Covid-19 in Italy at over 100,000, with some 11,000 fatalities. - KUNA