Dubai to send 120 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

Aid will be sent in eight planes, each with 15 tonnes of basic foods and clothing

An air bridge from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation will transport 120 tonnes of relief to Afghanistan. Wam

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment will send 120 tonnes of food and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Following directives from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the establishment will send eight planes, each loaded with 15 tonnes of basic food materials and items of clothing.

Ibrahim Bumalha, adviser to Sheikh Mohammed for humanitarian and cultural affairs, said the first of those aircraft left Dubai today.

He said the humanitarian aid sent to Afghanistan was to help to solve the food shortages they are suffering because of the current situation.

Mr Bumalha thanked Dubai’s aviation authorities for helping to transport the Emirati humanitarian aid and supporting the establishment’s humanitarian efforts.

The UAE was one of the first countries to send humanitarian aid to Kabul after the crisis in Afghanistan.

It has sent several planes to Kabul since the crisis began, carrying medicine and food to support humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.

Two weeks ago, the UAE hosted up to 8,500 Afghans at Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi, where high-quality housing, sanitation, food and health care were provided by teams from several UAE organisations.

The evacuees were hosted in the UAE capital temporarily and were expected to travel to other countries, chiefly the United States.

Earlier this week, the UAE welcomed 41 Afghans after the evacuation of Kabul, including members of the Afghanistan girls’ cycling and robotic teams.

The group includes at-risk human rights activists and their family members.