Emirates redoubles efforts in its international aid in the battle against the coronavirus

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues its remarkable task of fighting the global crisis of COVID-19 disease; the Arab country's assistance continues to reach those areas most in need and with the least resources to tackle the problem, such as Iraqi Kurdistan, Tajikistan, Ghana or the Comoros Islands. 

The Gulf country continues to make great efforts in international cooperation to stop the spread of COVID-19 reaching many areas, including various territories in the East and on the African continent.

On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates sent a relief plane carrying six tons of medical supplies to support the Kurds in Iraq in the complex task of stopping the spread of the coronavirus. This contribution will allow 6,000 members of the medical sector to work in better conditions against this scourge.

Ahmed al-Dhaheri, the UAE Consul General for the Iraqi Kurdistan region, positively highlighted this latest humanitarian action by his nation: "It is an honour for the UAE to extend a hand of assistance to Iraqi Kurdistan to help in its fight against the COVID-19. Our fraternal relations serve as the basis for this cooperation, through which we will help the frontline medical workers to combat this virus in a safe and secure manner. "The United Arab Emirates supports Iraq as it tirelessly pursues every effort to maintain public health and security in light of these difficult circumstances," the UAE diplomat said. 

This action is part of the international response strategy being carried out by the Arab Gulf State to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has already left more than 358,000 dead and more than 5.7 million cases diagnosed worldwide.

UAE's international humanitarian action has been dragging on as the UAE government also sent a cargo plane to Ghana on Thursday carrying parts of a field hospital to be built in the African country, in support of a UN mission to protect aid workers from the coronavirus in West Africa.

David Beasley, director of the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP), posted a video on the social networking site Twitter showing the downloading of medical supplies from the Boeing Globemaster C-17. "#HappeningNow: Live from Accra. I'm here in front of this C-17 provided by the UAE. It landed just now, carrying parts of a field hospital we're setting up to provide medical care for aid workers in West Africa. Thanks to the Governments of Ghana, UAE and all our donors, you've been instrumental," the aid worker tweeted.

Beasley praised this joint effort on the social network: "The Emirates Airlift and the WFP in action. We are lucky to have this C-17 in Accra today. It's a testament to the tremendous support of the UAE, helping the WFP transport medical supplies around the world". The head of the UN World Food Programme also wished to express his appreciation to Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

David Beasley highlighted in a video also broadcast on Twitter "the kindness and generosity of the people of the UAE and their leaders". He said that help was needed and that people were suffering greatly and that many lives could be saved with UAE's help. "Thank you Mohamed bin Zayed and UAE for the kindness of your heart in helping people and saving lives," said the WFP head. 

On the other hand, the UAE also provided vital assistance to other nations such as Tajikistan and the Comoros. The Gulf country sent a relief aircraft with 10 tonnes of medical supplies to the Republic of Tajikistan to reinforce the country's efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. The shipment will assist approximately 10,000 medical professionals in their efforts to contain the virus.

Commenting on the assistance, the UAE Ambassador to Kazakhstan and non-resident Ambassador to the Tajik country, Mohamed Ahmed al-Jaber, said that "the fight for a healthier and safer world is a priority for the United Arab Emirates, which has dedicated immense resources to advancing the global fight against the COVID-19 since the beginning of the crisis". "The delivery of aid to Tajikistan affirms the excellent relations that unite the two states that will be based on their partnership," he added in statements collected by the WAM agency.

The Emirates also sent an aid plane carrying seven tonnes of medical supplies to the Union of the Comoros in East Africa on Thursday. The aid will aim to assist approximately 7,000 medical professionals in their work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saeed Mohammed Saeed al-Maqbali, UAE Ambassador to the Union of the Comoros, spoke about the assistance: "UAE's assistance to the Union of the Comoros comes in support of the partnership between our two countries, in which the UAE is fully committed to helping African nations combat COVID-19". "The health workers on the front lines who will benefit from this assistance are courageously leading efforts to fight the pandemic, and today's assistance honors those remarkable sacrifices," he added.

So far, the UAE has responded to the coronavirus crisis by providing more than 658 metric tonnes of aid to 57 countries in need, supporting more than 658,000 medical professionals in the process.

The Emirates renewed its commitment to protect civilians and respect international law by emphasizing that the protection of vulnerable populations is at the heart of its humanitarian programs, in a statement by the delegation of the Emirate at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians. 

The UAE confirmed that civilians in conflict-affected areas around the world are experiencing difficult times, explaining that the existing threats they face, such as violence, food insecurity and many others, are now compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. A health scourge that seriously affects civilians. 

The Gulf country renewed its support for the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, in his call for a worldwide ceasefire to reduce the impact of the coronavirus on the planet, in order to further protect affected civilians. 

The statement noted that protecting vulnerable populations is at the core of the UAE's humanitarian programs and its efforts to support global efforts to limit the spread of the COVID-19.

It also noted the UAE's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the delivery of essential medical equipment worldwide; and the launch of the airlift in partnership with the World Food Programme to deliver medical supplies to countries in greatest need. 

The Emirates' intervention urged the members of the UN Security Council to overcome their differences and take unified action in this regard, and highlighted the importance of the measures taken by the international community to address the coronavirus pandemic in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law. 

The Emirates is also doing a lot of work against COVID-19 domestically. Emirati health officials have implemented a coronavirus detection system that has already exceeded two million tests, demonstrating the Gulf nation's great effort to tackle this problem. 

As one of UAE's latest breakthroughs in the fight against the coronavirus, an innovative laser-based technology was introduced a few days ago that allows mass screening to be carried out in a short space of time to detect whether a person is carrying the virus that causes COVID-19. This is a tool developed by QuantLase Imaging Lab, the medical research department of the International Holdings Company (IHC) group. This new development makes it possible to test patients suspected of being infected with the coronavirus in a few seconds and potentially identify carriers before they become infectious. 

The UAE Minister of Health and Prevention, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser al-Owais, referred positively to this development: "We are always following innovations related to the early and rapid detection of COVID-19. The government is very interested in supporting initiatives that help the health system in the UAE. Health officials have been following the progress of the QuantLase trials to test this equipment. We are proud to see a technology that works and will help better protect our people". 

This is in addition to other developments that were presented several weeks ago, such as coronavirus testing done on the fly without even having to get out of the car, or smart helmets used by police to quickly and massively detect people with high temperatures. It also includes important initiatives to implement major health infrastructures such as field hospitals, like the one located in the World Trade Center in Dubai.

Video about the Emirates aid to Iraqi Kurdistan in this link

Link to statements by David Beasley, Director of the UN World Food Programme