Emirates Red Crescent began its winter aid campaign with a shipment of goods for disadvantaged families in Italy and Macedonia.
The UAE's largest charitable organisation will support people in 25 countries this year.
Ahmed Al Mulla, the UAE's deputy head of mission at the UAE Embassy to Italy, oversaw the delivery of heating equipment and winter clothing with Ricardo Monti, chairman of the Emirates-Italian Business Council, and Prof Marco Rossi, director of the Catholic charity Sant'Egidio.
ERC recently distributed winter aid to about 15,000 families in Italy, San Marino and Macedonia.
In the coming days, the programme will also see the distribution of aid in the cities of Assisi and Milan, and again in San Marino and Macedonia.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the UAE has donated hundreds of tonnes and millions of dollars worth of aid to countries, including large shipments of personal protective equipment.
