More than 10,000 UAE volunteers pack Gaza relief aid

Donation centres collected more than 550 tonnes across Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai in two days

The UAE has launched a new campaign to provide relief to Palestinians affected by the war in Gaza. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

The campaign, called Tarahum – for Gaza, will establish centres to collect humanitarian aid packages for Palestinians

It will work with charities, volunteer centres, media and the private sector to collect food, health and hygiene items for those affected by the Israel-Gaza war

The campaign was launched in collaboration with the World Food Programme, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Community Development

The Emirates Red Crescent Authority launched the campaign on Sunday

The move is part of the UAE's efforts to provide supplies to the Palestinian people

Food and hygiene items are collected to be sent to those in need in Gaza

People from around the UAE gather to lend a helping hand and donate essential items to Palestinians affected by the war

Volunteers boxed up food, hygiene and medical supplies

Aid will be sent to Palestinians as part of the UAE's humanitarian drive to support those in need

The campaign will work towards providing children and mothers with basic needs

Additional centres will open across the country at a later date

Volunteers at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port on Sunday

Volunteers donated food and medical supplies

Urgent assistance will be provided to Palestinians affected by the war in the Gaza Strip

Young volunteers at the centre in Abu Dhabi on Sunday

Volunteers also provided clothing

Volunteers have donated a range of items including towels, clothing, food and medical supplies

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Thousands of volunteers gathered across the UAE to pack aid boxes for Palestinian people in Gaza.

The Compassion for Gaza collections in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi attracted a total of 10,100 volunteers who put together 25,000 aid packages in two days.

The donation centres were set up by the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, the World Food Programme, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Community Development.

More than 550 tonnes of relief, including food, medical supplies and hygiene products, were collected at Al Rimal Hall in Dubai, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi and Expo Centre in Sharjah.

Around 120 tonnes of aid was sent to Al-Arish in Egypt in collaboration with the World Food Programme, which will be transported to the Gaza Strip.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, confirmed on Sunday that 4,000 volunteers were at the Expo Centre in Sharjah.

“Today we witnessed a large presence of nearly 4,000 volunteers, all of whom came in response to the national campaign, to support our brothers in Palestine,” Sheikh Sultan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“We will not abandon our humanitarian duty, and we will remain a help and support to our brothers in Gaza and Palestine, and to every oppressed person. Bless your efforts and thanks everyone.”

Almost another 4,000 people gathered on Sunday at Adnec in Abu Dhabi to pack aid.

The event, which took place between 9am and 2pm, attracted volunteers of all nationalities.

Between all three events this weekend, organisers said that about 25,000 boxes had been prepared.

Rashid Al Mansouri, deputy secretary-general for local affairs at Emirates Red Crescent, praised residents who “rushed and raced to participate and donate to the Compassion for Gaza campaign.”