UAE Affirms Commitment to Strengthening International Cooperation with Provision of COVID-19 Aid and PPE
The United Arab Emirates today advanced 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.
Commenting on the landmark announcement, Her
Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International
Cooperation, remarked, “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 favor 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 His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; 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 His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,
Founding Father of the UAE, who believed in the collective responsibility of
helping his fellow man,” Her Excellency 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 organizations 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 Organization-procured supplies transiting through the area.
Capitalizing 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.
