An Emirati ship containing more than 2,000 tonnes of crucial aid has arrived in Syria to support relief efforts following February's devastating earthquake.
The shipment, loaded with food supplies, medical equipment and winter clothing, was sent to the Syrian port of Latakia on the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed, as part of the UAE's Operation Gallant Knight 2 mission — a humanitarian operation to support people affected by the deadly natural disaster that struck Syria and neighbouring Turkey.
The death toll from the earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks stands at more than 50,000, with millions more affected.
The Emirates previously sent 1,000 tonnes of aid to Syria in March.
The latest 2,215 tonnes of aid includes 1,040 tonnes of food, 600 tonnes of relief and medical assistance and a further 573 tonnes of building materials.
The vital assistance is being led by the Emirates Red Crescent, the charitable arm of the UAE government.
‘’The ERC will continue to scale up its humanitarian response for the best interest of the quake-affected people in Syria and Turkey as part of Operation Gallant Knight 2," said Dr Hamdan Al Mazrouei, chairman of the ERC board.
’"We are acting and moving in different directions to relieve the suffering caused by the disaster.’’
The aid will be distributed to those in need in co-ordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
Amer Ismail Hilal, Governor of Latakia, thanked the UAE for its sustained support in the wake of the disaster.
The UAE launched the Bridges of Goodness public donation campaign in February in response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
Thousands of volunteers have given up their time to help pack goods bound for Turkey and Syria at events held across the country in recent weeks.
UAE relief effort — in pictures
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attended the Bridges of Giving collection. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, at the Bridges of Giving collection. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Thousands turned out to take part in the collection at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Volunteers packing Emirates Red Crescent aid boxes for the affected people by earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sara Al Nuaimi, director of Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiative, said the aid will be flown out almost immediately. Pawan Singh / The National -
The target by the end of the day is to fill about 15,000 aid boxes. Pawan Singh / The National -
Joana Talostan, who has relatives in Aleppo and Damascus, said she wanted to help as much as possible. Pawan Singh / The National -
Danish Ahmed, volunteer at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Volunteers making aid boxes for survivors of the earthquake that struck near the Turkey-Syria border on February 6. Pawan Singh / The National
