Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid sends urgent medical aid to UK's NHS

Sixty tonnes of personal protective equipment have been delivered to the UK to help medical staff

Medical aid is loaded onto a flight bound for Iran. The UAE has donated more than 400 tonnes of aid to at least 43 countries since the outbreak of Covid-19. Wam

Sixty tonnes of urgent medical aid, sent on the orders of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has arrived in the UK

The aid includes personal protective equipment - which is in short supply in the UK - and medical equipment that is expected to support the country's National Health Service (NHS) in their fight against Covid-19.

The UK is grappling with one of Europe’s worst outbreaks of the novel coronavirus, with more than 171,000 cases and 26,771 deaths.

The first aircraft carrying face masks, protective clothing and other essential items arrived in London from China late on Thursday night.

Sheikh Mohammed ordered the aid be sent as a reflection of the "strong historical relations between the UAE and the UK".

The gesture is also part of the UAE’s keenness to help health workers on the frontlines of combating the pandemic, reported state news agency Wam.

On Thursday, Britain’s Middle East Minister has praised the continuing “teamwork” between his country and the UAE in the fight against the coronavirus.

In a call on Thursday, James Cleverly, who is British Minister of State for the Mena region, thanked UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, for the UAE’s help.

Mr Cleverly tweeted that he had thanked the UAE for its support in ensuring work to develop a Covid-19 vaccine was fully funded.

Since the outbreak, the UAE has donated more than 450 tonnes of aid to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Shipments to more than 30 nations included everything from testing kits to food supplies.