Emirates boosts humanitarian aid to other countries to fight coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic is hitting every country in the world with virulence. Although quarantines are being phased out in some countries, such as China, and contagion and death are starting to decline in others, such as Spain and Italy, this is not the time to let our guard down. That is why the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stepped up its delivery of humanitarian aid to Italy, Colombia and Pakistan, receiving some 30 tonnes of medical supplies and protective equipment.
In the case of the European country, the UAE has sent some 10 tonnes of medical supplies, which left on Monday, to help in the fight against the coronavirus, according to the Emirate newspaper The National. Up to 10,000 doctors and nurses will benefit from the shipment, the Emirates government said. Italy is one of the world's most affected countries by the coronavirus: it has recorded more than 15,000 deaths and nearly 128,000 infections, of which 21,000 have recovered. The aid included masks, gloves and protective kits for health workers.
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio thanked the Emirates for its commitment to the global fight against the coronavirus through the social network Twitter: "Thank you to my colleague Abdullah bin Zayed for the friendship and solidarity shown. We will never forget this gesture," wrote the Italian diplomat in his profile.
For his part, the Emirates' ambassador to Italy, Omar al-Shamsi, explained that his country's humanitarian programme against the coronavirus prioritises support for leadership and people in the countries on the front line of the fight against COVID-19. The diplomat explained that the operation was carried out in less than 24 hours. The demand for new high protection medical equipment is very high at the moment and there are shortages in many countries. "In Italy they have a great need for masks, disinfectants, gloves... hundreds of thousands every month," Al-Shamsi told the Emirate newspaper The National.
Both the ambassador and his diplomatic staff sent their families back to the Emirates when the outbreak of the coronavirus began in the country. "My children wanted to stay, but I told them they should go home as the situation worsened in Italy," Al-Shamsi said. The Emirates Embassy also located 27 Emiratis studying in Italy and 10 families who were on vacation to repatriate them.
"We contacted them and asked them to leave the country before the virus spread and they left immediately," said the head of the Emirati diplomatic mission. Since then, the embassy staff has worked mainly from home. Al-Shamsi also said that although the situation remains serious, deaths have begun to fall due to social distancing and confinement in Italian cities.
However, it should be noted that Italy is not the only place where medical supplies have been sent. A flight loaded with humanitarian aid to combat the coronavirus arrived on Wednesday in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, from the Emirates with 13 tonnes of medical and protective equipment. The UAE ambassador to the Latin American country, Salem Rashid Alowais, explained that the aid is courtesy of the UAE government and aims to stop the coronavirus in Colombia.
The ambassador in Bogotá also stressed that the arrival of this first shipment of medical assistance reflects the Emirates' commitment to support the Colombian people in this health crisis and its emphasis on supporting international cooperation to address the virus and its effects. The aid sent includes 30,000 units of protective clothing, 500,000 gloves, 30,000 shoe covers and 20,000 masks, in addition to disinfectants, wipes and fans.
Similarly, Pakistan has also benefited from the humanitarian aid sent by the Emirates around the world. The Emirate's ambassador to the country, Hamad Obaid Ebrahim Salem Al Zaabi, confirmed the arrival of medical supplies at Islamabad International Airport on Sunday. "This morning, the second batch of 11 tons of medical aid supplies provided by the Emirate Government to our brothers in Pakistan to combat the coronavirus arrived at Islamabad airport. We renew [our] commitment to support the [world] in the face of exceptional circumstances and challenges," Al Zaabi tweeted.
"These initiatives include emergency assistance partnerships with the World Health Organization, as well as provisions to help several countries, including China, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Seychelles, to overcome the crisis," the ambassador said. As of Sunday, Pakistan had recorded more than 2,899 cases of coronavirus and reported 45 deaths. About 208 patients have recovered from the disease. All of this offers another example of how the Emirates is helping to combat COVID-19 both within and outside its borders.