• An empty downtown street is seen in an aerial view taken with a drone in Los Angeles, California, USA. EPA
    An empty downtown street is seen in an aerial view taken with a drone in Los Angeles, California, USA. EPA
  • A volunteer carries a tea distribution machine in the "Aurore" centre for homeless and migrants in Paris. AP Photo
    A volunteer carries a tea distribution machine in the "Aurore" centre for homeless and migrants in Paris. AP Photo
  • Children gather near a US military vehicle on patrol along the M4 motorway near Hasakah in the countryside of Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah. AFP
    Children gather near a US military vehicle on patrol along the M4 motorway near Hasakah in the countryside of Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah. AFP
  • A resident presents flowers during a silent tribute to "martyrs" who died in the fight against the coronavirus disease outbreak and compatriots who died of the disease in Wuhan, China. Getty Images
    A resident presents flowers during a silent tribute to "martyrs" who died in the fight against the coronavirus disease outbreak and compatriots who died of the disease in Wuhan, China. Getty Images
  • A Chinese woman wears a protective mask as she waits at a bus stop before three minutes of silence to mark the country's national day of mourning for Covid-19 near Beijing Railway Station. Getty Images
    A Chinese woman wears a protective mask as she waits at a bus stop before three minutes of silence to mark the country's national day of mourning for Covid-19 near Beijing Railway Station. Getty Images
  • People form a queue at the weekly market in Hanau, Germany. Reuters
    People form a queue at the weekly market in Hanau, Germany. Reuters
  • French firefighters from Marin unit of Marseille wearing protective equipment as they working at the PCR machine which can detect the presence of Covid-19 in the environment. AFP
    French firefighters from Marin unit of Marseille wearing protective equipment as they working at the PCR machine which can detect the presence of Covid-19 in the environment. AFP
  • Window lights spell out "We Love Las Vegas" at the Flamingo hotel-casino during the shutdown of all casinos and nonessential businesses, an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. Reuters
    Window lights spell out "We Love Las Vegas" at the Flamingo hotel-casino during the shutdown of all casinos and nonessential businesses, an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. Reuters
  • A medical staff member wearing a protective mask walks past the empty British Airways' check-in area of Geneva Airport. AFP
    A medical staff member wearing a protective mask walks past the empty British Airways' check-in area of Geneva Airport. AFP
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    Westhaven Marina is noticeably quieter in New Zealand. Getty Images
  • A man wearing a facemask feeds pigeons during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19. AFP
    A man wearing a facemask feeds pigeons during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19. AFP
  • Portuguese nationals prepare to fly to Lisbon at Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, East Timor. According to media reports, more than 200 Portuguese working in East Timor, will depart for Lisbon. EPA
    Portuguese nationals prepare to fly to Lisbon at Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, East Timor. According to media reports, more than 200 Portuguese working in East Timor, will depart for Lisbon. EPA
  • A Montenegrian Red Cross volunteer carries a bag of flour over a suspension bridge in the village of Dromira, 25km north of Podgorica, as Montenegro remains on lockdown. Reuters
    A Montenegrian Red Cross volunteer carries a bag of flour over a suspension bridge in the village of Dromira, 25km north of Podgorica, as Montenegro remains on lockdown. Reuters
  • The Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship departs Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images
    The Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship departs Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Government

Coronavirus: Emirates Red Crescent hands out food parcels to the vulnerable

Those given aid included orphans, people of determination and the elderly

The National

April 05, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The Emirates Red Crescent has given out 5,000 food parcels to the most vulnerable members of society as part of its contribution to the Fund of the UAE – Homeland of Humanity.

Those supported include orphans, people of determination, the elderly, people with chronic disease and people on a low income.

The ERC worked alongside a team of volunteers to avoid overcrowding amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ERC Secretary General Dr Mohammed Al Falahi said the move underlined the desire of ERC Chairman Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed to support people affected by the outbreak.

"Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan is following with great interest the plans and programmes prepared by the ERC to support the efforts aimed to bring the coronavirus under control, and to create convenient conditions for families and various segments of society to stay home and protect themselves from the consequences of the pandemic," Dr Al Falahi said.

"The ERC is collaborating with its partners at the 'Fund of the UAE – Homeland of Humanity', primarily the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, to strengthen the contributions of the Fund and to get additional donors and contributors to chip in its health, educational, logistics and food programmes.

"The ERC is also co-ordinating with other Emirati charity and humanitarian organisations to widen the base of the Fund's beneficiaries."

Rice, wheat, sugar, milk, oils, legumes, canned food, pasta, noodles, lentils, chickpeas, juice, cheese and tea were only some of the products in the food package.

Coronavirus