Coronavirus: UAE sends aid to Iran to support fight against Covid-19

More than 32 tonnes of medical supplies sent to Iran, where at least 853 people have died and 15,000 cases have been reported

UAE aid going to Iran. It was second batch of aid to be sent to Iran from the UAE this month. All images courtesy Wam

UAE aid going to Iran.

Aircraft await loading.

UAE aid going to Iran.

UAE aid going to Iran.

UAE aid going to Iran.

UAE aid going to Iran.

UAE aid going to Iran.

UAE aid going to Iran.

UAE aid going to Iran.

UAE aid going to Iran.

The UAE has sent two planes loaded with critical medical aid to Iran to support the country's fight against coronavirus.

The two aircraft, which took off from Abu Dhabi on Monday, contained more than 32 tonnes of supplies, including thousands of pairs of gloves, surgical masks and protective equipment.

It was second batch of aid to be sent to Iran from the UAE this month.

On March 3, the Emirates carried out a coronavirus aid mission to Iran in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, sending a UAE aircraft carrying 7.5 tonnes of medical supplies and five WHO experts to help 15,000 healthcare workers.

"The UAE’s efforts in carrying out a second medical aid flight to Iran are consistent with our country’s founding humanitarian principles, which guide our belief that providing life-saving assistance to those experiencing distress is essential to serving the common good," said Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation.

"The coronavirus crisis has affirmed the effectiveness of the UAE’s aid approach, wherein the leadership and people stand shoulder to shoulder with nations in their time of need.:"

After the initial Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, the UAE sent medical supplies, including face masks and gloves, to China.

A municipal policeman orders people to evacuate the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo

A bus driver wearing a mask as a means of protection against the cononavirus Covid-19, speaks to passengers in the northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli. AFP

A medical staff member in protective gear prepares to check the temperature of a cleric man amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, at Najaf airport in the holy city of Najaf upon his arrival from Iran, Iraq. REUTERS

A picture shows extra beds set up in tents in the yard of a Red Crescent Society building hosting a hospital opened by the governor of Hebron and equipped with modern appliances, to receive patients affected by the coronavirus Covid-19 in the village of Halhul, near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. AFP

A Palestinian student follows through his mobile telephone from his home, a lesson broadcast by a teacher from an educational radio station, during his isolation period in a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Gaza City. AFP

A pedestrian wears a protective face mask while walking in central Tehran, Iran. Bloomberg

A municipal policeman, left, orders fishermen to leave the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo

Turkish citizens wearing protective face masks sit in a bus as they are repatriated from the "umrah" pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, prior to being placed in quarantine as part of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus in Ankara. AFP

Buses carry Turkish citizens who returned from Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage, to place in dormitories to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, as part of quarantine measures, in Ankara, Turkey. EPA

A Palestinian teacer broadcasts a lessen from an educational radio station, in order for students to follow through their mobile telephones at home, during their isolation period in a bid to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Gaza City. AFP

A medical staff member in protective gear checks the temperature of a girl amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, at Najaf airport in the holy city of Najaf upon his arrival from Iran, Iraq. REUTERS

A woman wearing a mask as a means of protection against the cononavirus Covid-19, gazes out of a car window in the northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli. AFP

A worker arranges goods on an empty shelve in a mall amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, in Amman Jordan. REUTERS

A cashier wearing a face mask amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread works at a mall in Amman, Jordan.REUTERS

Egyptian Coptic priest Sawirs Marcos Saiwirs reads government instructions on preventing the spread of coronavirus during Sunday mass at Archangel Michael Church in Cairo, Egypt. REUTERS

Pedestrians walk in front of a closed sidewalk cafe in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis after the government's decision to shut down bars, cafes and restaurants in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. AFP

Shops remain closed in the centre of the Tunisian capital Tunis after the government's decision to shut down bars, cafes and restaurants in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. AFP

A man with a motorcycle helmet covers his face with a mask, as he watches municipal policemen order people to leave the corniche, or waterfront promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea, as the country's top security council and the government were meeting over the spread of coronavirus, in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo

It also sent an urgent medical aid shipment containing 20,000 testing units and equipment to Afghanistan, which shares a porous border with Iran and has 21 confirmed coronavirus cases.

This month, the UAE also flew 215 people from different countries out of Wuhan to Abu Dhabi, in co-ordination with the Chinese government.

They are under medical quarantine at Emirates Humanitarian City and will be flown to their home countries when they are considered to be healthy.

Iran reported a record rise of 129 deaths from the coronavirus on Monday, pushing its total toll to 853 of nearly 15,000 confirmed cases.

On Sunday, the country imposed a week-long curfew on and closed the Masoume shrine, a major pilgrimage site in the city of Qom, the centre of Iran’s outbreak.

The official leading Iran’s response to the virus also expressed concerns that healthcare systems could be overwhelmed if the rate of new cases continued to climb.