UAE sends 300,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to Comoros

President Azali Assoumani praises the Emirates' commitment to global aid efforts

The UAE has sent 300,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses and nine tonnes of vital medical supplies to Comoros. All photos Wam

The plane was met by Azali Assoumani, President of Comoros, and Saeed Al Maqbali, UAE Ambassador to the Comoros, along with other senior officials.

The plane being unloaded after landing in Comoros.

Mr Assoumani commended the UAE's global humanitarian efforts.

Boys play football on Mitsamiouli beach in Comoros. The UAE and Comoros share warm ties

The UAE has dispatched 300,000 vaccine doses to Comoros to assist in the fight against Covid-19.

Nine tonnes of vital medical supplies were also aboard the aircraft, state news agency Wam reported on Tuesday.

The plane was met at the airport in the Comorian capital, Moroni, by the country's president Azali Assoumani and Saeed Al Maqbali, UAE Ambassador to the Comoros.

Mr Assoumani praised the UAE's commitment to global aid efforts and highlighted its support for his country, especially during the pandemic.

Mr Al Maqbali said the aid reflected the UAE's commitment to the country and underlined the strong and warm relations between the two.

"This gesture is part of the UAE's efforts to support the drive of Comoros' government and medical sector in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

Comoros is an island country of about 850,886 people in the Indian Ocean, just off the eastern coast of Africa. According to the World Health Organisation, it has recorded more than 4,000 Covid-19 cases and 147 deaths.

One of the poorest countries in the world, the UAE has supported Comoros since the 1970s with humanitarian aid and investment.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development in June pledged Dh35 million to help bolster the quality of life among people there.

The fund signed an agreement with Emirates Red Crescent to boost the public sector, particularly health and education.

“Through this agreement we seek to support sustainable development and improve the living standards of people of the Comoros by ensuring their access to basic services,” said Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of the fund

The UAE, meanwhile, has sent aid to countries around the world since the pandemic began.

From Kazakhstan to Ukraine, authorities have sent vaccines, medical supplies and humanitarian aid to help countries fight the pandemic.