The Emirates Red Crescent becomes a sponsor for the families of those killed by COVID-19
The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent Society (ERC) has announced that it will be a sponsor and provide care for the families of the COVID-19 casualties of all nationalities, according to the WAM news agency. The gesture, which is part of the country's "You Are Among Your Families" initiative, includes several vital steps and strengthens the organisation's philanthropic programmes in the field of social services.
In this regard, Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, ERC Secretary General, has noted that Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's representative in Al Dhafra region and President of ERC is following the organisation's initiatives related to the control of COVID-19 throughout the country and is always stressing the importance of improving preventive and precautionary efforts against the pandemic. In addition, he states that the initiative reflects ERC's willingness to offer comfort to families who have lost one of their members to COVID-19 and to alleviate its humanitarian impact and negative impacts on their lives.
The humanitarian agency will also provide everything these families need and help them overcome the ordeal of losing a loved one. Al Falahi said that the organisation had begun implementing the measures, in cooperation with the relevant authorities throughout the country, by identifying the victims and the number of dead, communicating with their families, studying their social conditions and identifying their needs regarding life, health and education. It has also indicated that the authority will spare no effort to achieve its humanitarian objectives in this regard.
The coronavirus pandemic is hitting every country in the world virulently. 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. In order to aid the rest of the world in its fight against COVID-19, the Emirates has sent humanitarian aid to the rest of the world. The material has reached places like Italy, Colombia and Pakistan.
The effort that Emirates has made is reflected in the figures of shipments. The nation has donated a total of 260,000 tons of medical supplies and food to 24 countries and has provided medical assistance with 260,000 health professionals, according to a document issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Countries such as Iran, with which the Emirates has little or no diplomatic relations, has received up to 7.5 tons of medical supplies from Abu Dhabi since mid-March. As the outbreak worsened, a second shipment was made with 33 tonnes of health supplies. Afghanistan has also received material from the Emirates, Pakistan has received 11 tons of medical supplies and Ethiopia has received up to 33 tons.
Aid from the Emirates has also reached the most developed countries. The Gulf country handed over the ExCeL facility in London, owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi, to the British authorities so that they could set up a field hospital to treat coronavirus patients. In addition, the Emirates has facilitated the repatriation of 345 British tourists who were visiting the country at the time of the coronavirus outbreak.
