Coronavirus: UAE sends 48 tonnes of food aid to Indonesia

The assistance will go towards supporting families hit by the Covid-19 pandemic

Healthcare workers take a swab from a vendor at a traditional market in Depok, near Jakarta, Indonesia. The country has seen one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in Asia. Reuters

The UAE has sent an aircraft carrying 48 tonnes of vital food aid to Indonesia.

It will go towards supporting families hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, state news agency Wam said on Monday.

The assistance follows a previous flight sent by the UAE last year to help the country battle coronavirus.

Indonesia has had one of the severest coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, with about 1.7 million cases and more than 46,000 deaths.

Abdullah Al Dhaheri, UAE ambassador to Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said the gesture underlined the warm relationship between the countries.

"The UAE and Indonesia are linked by solid ties, which are reflected in the continued exchanges and bilateral visits by the leaders of our two countries," Mr Al Dhaheri said.

"In April 2020, the UAE sent a plane containing 20 tonnes of medical supplies to Indonesia to support the country in curbing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, benefiting 20,000 frontline healthcare workers."

The UAE has provided aid to more than 135 countries since the pandemic began last year.

Kenya, Syria and Guinea are among other countries to benefit.

UAE aid to Kenya and Guinea – in pictures