Emirates sends supplies to Cuba to combat COVID-19
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent an aid plane with eight metric tons of medical supplies to Cuba just hours ago to support the Caribbean country's work to stop the spread of the COVID-19 disease, which has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions affected worldwide.
The material provided by the Gulf country to the Cuban nation will help approximately 8,000 medical professionals as they fight to contain the coronavirus, which has already caused 83 deaths and more than 2,100 cases diagnosed on the island.
Referring to this support, Bader Abdulla Saeed Almatroshi, UAE's ambassador to Cuba, said the importance of this action and the good ties that bind both nations: "The United Arab Emirates and Cuba have forged strong ties in recent years in a show of cooperation that is helping our two countries overcome the VICD-19 crisis. With this delivery of aid and the leadership of the UAE, a message of support and solidarity is being sent to Cuba and its frontline workers, many of whom have volunteered to fight the virus in other countries with immense courage and resolve."
Cuba expressed its appreciation to the UAE for the donation, which includes rapid tests, masks, gloves, shoes and disinfectants; and which is valued at more than US$670,000.
This is not the first time that the Middle Eastern country has cooperated with Cuba. Thus, Emirates assistance to the Cuban country in the last five years is quantified at more than 47 million dirhams (about 12.7 million dollars).
So far, the UAE has responded to the COVID-19 crisis with a major humanitarian aid and international cooperation campaign that has already provided over 708 metric tonnes of aid to 62 countries, supporting over 708,000 medical professionals in the process.
The Emirates has collaborated globally in the fight against the coronavirus with many nations, including powers such as the United States, China and the United Kingdom, which it has helped in actions aimed at halting the spread of COVID-19. It has also assisted countries with fewer resources, demonstrating the benefit of the United Arab Emirates, including Yemen, Sierra Leone and Armenia, or even regions in need such as Iraqi Kurdistan.
