Dubai has opened an emergency air bridge to help tens of thousands of refugees fleeing fighting in Ethiopia.
Two plane loads of medical equipment and humanitarian supplies left the emirate over the past two days.
One aircraft carrying 96 tonnes of medical supplies for 200,000 patients provided by the World Health Organisation landed in Ethiopia from Dubai International Humanitarian City on Wednesday.
A second left Dubai on Thursday for neighbouring Sudan with 95 tonnes of relief and shelter aid onboard.
The aid was provided by organisations including United Nations Children's Fund; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, World Food Programme; and Doctors Without Borders.
The aid was ordered by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and aims to assist the escalating humanitarian situation affecting the lives of about 40,000 Ethiopian refugees, who are streaming into eastern Sudan.
“The medical supplies, valued at over $300,000, will cover an estimated 200,000 patients," said Robert Blanchard from the WHO’s logistics team in Dubai. "The rapid deployment of these life-saving medicines and medical supplies is vital to WHO’s ongoing health emergency response efforts, particularly as we simultaneously respond to the tremendous demands associated with a global pandemic.”
The conflict between the Ethiopian government and groups in its northern Tigray region has thrown the East African country into chaos.
Hundreds have reportedly died and the conflict has sent streams of refugees into Sudan.
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Ethiopian migrants who fled intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, wait for their ration of food in the border reception center of Hamdiyet, in the eastern Sudanese state of Kasala, AFP -
Ethiopians who fled the ongoing fighting in Tigray region prepare to cross the Setit River on the Sudan-Ethiopia border in Hamdait village in eastern Kassala state, Sudan. Reuters -
A young refugee from the Tigray region of Ethiopia waits to register at the UNCHR center at Hamdayet, Sudan. AP -
Ethiopian migrants who fled intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, gather in the border reception center of Hamdiyet, in the eastern Sudanese state of Kasala. AFP -
Ethiopian migrants who fled intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, wait for their ration of food in the border reception center of Hamdiyet, in the eastern Sudanese state of Kasala. AFP -
Ethiopian migrants who fled intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, gather at the border reception center of Hamdiyet, in the eastern Sudanese state of Kasala. AFP -
An Ethiopian migrant who fled intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, walks with jerricans of water at the border reception centre of Hamdiyet, in the eastern Sudanese state of Kasala. AFP -
Ethiopian migrants who fled intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, gather at the border reception centre of Hamdiyet, in the eastern Sudanese state of Kasala. AFP -
Ethiopian migrants who fled intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, gather in a makeshift shelter at the border reception centre of Hamdiyet, in the eastern Sudanese state of Kasala. AFP -
An Ethiopian migrant who fled intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, speaks to a fellow refugee at the border reception centre of Hamdiyet, in the eastern Sudanese state of Kasala. AFP
