Emirates Red Crescent sends aid to assist healthcare workers in Syria

The flights were the latest aid from UAE to help fellow countries battling natural disasters and including Covid-19

Two planes carrying medication, medical supplies and equipment reached Damascus last Friday. Courtesy: Wam

Damascus received two shipments of medical aid sent by the UAE to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Courtesy: Wam

The aid will benefit thousands of healthcare workers in Syria. Courtesy: Wam

Since the start of the pandemic, the UAE has dispatched 1,323 metric tonnes of aid to 110 countries, supporting more than 1.3 million medical professionals. Courtesy: Wam

Last week alone, the country sent seven shipments of aid overseas, including a ship loaded with 2,400 tonnes of aid bound for Beirut. Courtesy: Wam

The Emirates Red Crescent dispatched aid to help healthcare workers fight Covid-19 in Syria.

Two planes carrying medication, medical supplies and equipment reached Damascus last week.

A shipment carrying 25 tonnes of supplies arrived on Friday.

"The aid, which is the second of its kind following the first batch that arrived in Damascus on Sunday, falls within the UAE's international response to the global pandemic,” said Abdul Hakim Al Nuaimi, UAE's charge d'affaires in Syria.

Dr Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, secretary-general of the ERC, said the aid, which was dispatched in coordination with its counterpart in Syria, will benefit thousands of healthcare workers.

It includes “basic supplies used to maintain the precautionary and preventive measures aimed at confronting the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

UAE sends aid to flood-hit Sudan

In separate developments, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai,  approved an emergency flight to support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to assist the victims of floods in various regions of Sudan and South Sudan.

The aid flight, which carried 100 metric tonnes of core relief supplies stored at UNHCR’s Global Stockpile in Dubai, arrived in Khartoum on Friday.

“In the aftermath of the heavy seasonal rains and the floods, the situation in various parts of Sudan is deeply saddening especially with tens of thousands of people in desperate need of shelter, including refugees and internally displaced Sudanese people," said Nadia Jbour, who is head of the UNHCR office in the UAE.

"We are very grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the Ruler of Dubai, the UAE government and the International Humanitarian City for supporting our efforts in responding to this urgent need by covering the transportation expenses to send much needed relief items."

Aid for blast-hit Beirut and fight against Covid-19

Last week, the country sent eight shipments of aid overseas, including a ship loaded with 2,400 tonnes of aid bound for Beirut.

The UAE also sent five tonnes of medical aid to Myanmar to bolster the country's efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, and another five tonnes of medical supplies to Cambodia.

More supplies were dispatched to Yemen, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

Since the start of the pandemic, the UAE has dispatched at least 1,323 metric tonnes of aid to 110 countries, supporting more than 1.3 million medical professionals.