UAE provides COVID-19 aid and PPE to 1 million medical professionals worldwide
The UAE today reiterated its commitment to
strengthening international cooperation after assisting more than 1 million
medical workers worldwide through the supply of over 1,000 tonnes of personal
protective equipment, PPE, and medical and food aid in the fight against the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on the occasion, Reem bint Ibrahim Al
Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, said, "Since its
very founding, the UAE has pursued bonds of friendly cooperation and solidarity
with other countries, believing that nations must set aside their differences
in favour of unity and the greater good of humankind. Today’s milestone of
assisting 1 million healthcare workers affirms the UAE’s commitment to
extending a hand of cooperation to the world, regardless of the religion, race,
or ideology of recipients."
"The clear vision of President His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy
Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was not clouded when this pandemic
hit the world. If anything, they doubled down on helping all those in need with
what we can as we also manage our own challenges. With these values, respect
for our common humanity, and desire to help those in need, the UAE further
reasserts the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of
the UAE, who believed in the collective responsibility of helping his fellow
man," she added.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE
has been a leader in global humanitarian efforts to stem the virus’ spread. As
the most active provider of foreign COVID-19 assistance in the world, the UAE
has ensured that the geographical breadth of its aid knows no filters of race
or religion, providing assistance in times of need to 70 countries, including
China, Italy, the United Kingdom, Iran, Pakistan, Brazil, Russia, Yemen, and
Afghanistan, among others.
Moreover, the UAE has partnered with numerous
international organisations to boost the effectiveness and reach of its
COVID-19 assistance. The world’s largest humanitarian hub at Dubai’s
International Humanitarian City is driving the COVID-19 response, with around
80 percent of World Health Organisation-procured supplies transiting through
the area. Capitalising on the UAE’s geographic positioning and excellent
logistics infrastructure, DIHC has served as a critical platform of assistance.
On May 4, the UAE, in partnership with the UN World
Food Programme, WFP, launched an international air bridge operation to provide
a lifeline of essential health and humanitarian supplies to nations grappling
with the impact of COVID-19.
That day, the UAE also took part in a global
pledging conference hosted by European leaders to raise €7.5 billion to
discover, produce, and distribute a vaccine for COVID-19.
Furthermore, in line with the UAE’s efforts to
contribute to the global scientific community’s understanding of COVID-19, the
UAE has shared genomic sequencing and mutation data on various global
databases, including the open-source COVID-19 genome database Nexstrain, to
help scientists worldwide trace the spread of outbreaks.
Whether through the provision of PPE, sharing
knowledge of genetic sequencing, or ensuring that vaccines reach all those in
need, the UAE will continue to be a reliable partner and a voice for good.
