Coronavirus: Indian medics allowed to enter UAE to tackle Covid-19

A first batch of 88 doctors and nurses permitted to fly were visiting home when flights were grounded in March

Emirati officials wave off an aid flight heading for India on Saturday. Among the equipment was medical gear for doctors and nurses. Wam

Dozens of doctors and nurses from India will be allowed to fly to the Emirates to help tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.

Officials said 88 medical staff were given permission to leave India and enter UAE and were expected to travel soon.

The UAE Embassy in Delhi confirmed that "Indian authorities allowed to send first batch of medical team of 88 specialists, doctors and nurses to UAE within short period to support UAE’s efforts in fighting corona," in a post on Twitter..

"This reflects the special importance the Indian government attaches to bilateral relations between two countries," the tweet added.

The UAE cancelled scheduled passenger flights on March 19. It has begun to gradually bring back the first of an estimated 30,000 expats who were overseas at the time, starting with key workers.

India also imposed a strict lockdown since March 25, which was extended for another two weeks this weekend, with some relaxation of rules to help to restart the economy.

Indian embassy officials in Dubai told local media that among the 88 medics were UAE residents who were in India when flights were halted, while others were recent recruits waiting to move to the Emirates.

Also on Saturday, the UAE sent an aid plane containing seven tonnes of medical supplies to India to 7,000 medical staff there.

Ahmed Al Banna, UAE Ambassador to India, said the country was "committed to extending critical support to nations seeking to bolster their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic".

To date, the UAE has provided more than 348 tonnes of aid to 34 countries, supporting almost 350,000 medical professionals in the process.

Filipino volunteers hand out food in Abu Dhabi

Mona Mohamed (left) donates rice, eggs, cooking oil and other daily essentials for people in Khalifa A who have lost their jobs due to coronavirus. Victor Besa / The National

Mona Mohamed (left) donates rice, eggs, cooking oil and other daily essentials for people in Khalifa A who have lost their jobs due to coronavirus. Victor Besa / The National

Friends of Ms Mohammed prepare bags of food to hand out to people in Abu Dhabi who are struggling financially due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Victor Besa / The National

Members of the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19 collect food from Ms Mohamed. Victor Besa / The National

Ms Mohammed and her friends hand out food to people who have lost their jobs amid the coronavirus outbreak. Victor Besa / The National

Members of the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi pose for a photo with Ms Mohammed after collecting some free food. Victor Besa / The National

Mona Mohamed (left) donates rice, eggs, cooking oil and other daily essentials for people in Khalifa A who have lost their jobs due to coronavirus. Victor Besa / The National

Members of the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi hand out food to their compatriots who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National

Mona Mohamed's children (from left) Fares, Hamed Khalifa, Ali and Saed help pack the daily supplies. Victor Besa / The National

Ms Mohamed's children help carry food out to the car so it can be distributed among members of the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi who have lost their jobs or are struggling financially in the wake of Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National

Mona Mohamed poses for a photo with her four sons. Victor Besa / The National