The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent emergency medical assistance to Lebanon to help those responsible for the health system treat the victims of the heavy explosion in the port of Beirut that left a total of 137 dead.
The assistance includes medicines and medical supplies to support the affected citizens of the Lebanese capital. This medical assistance from the Emirates, represented by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is part of a response to help mitigate the effects of the tragic accident and strengthen the efforts of medical personnel to treat the injured. As part of this humanitarian assistance, 30 tons of medical supplies were sent from the International Humanitarian City in Dubai to Lebanon.
Reem bint Ibrahim al-Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, noted that this Emirati initiative reflects the Gulf country's continuing efforts to support those most in need in difficult circumstances. "The UAE's commitment to provide various forms of support in such situations underlines our solidarity with all brotherly and friendly countries in times of crisis and our desire to make concerted efforts to mitigate the challenges. We will work to assess the situation and to evaluate what additional assistance we can provide," he added in the words of the Emirati news agency WAM.
The Emirati Ministry of Health and Prevention sent the relief supplies from the warehouses of the Dubai International Humanitarian City, which is coordinating efforts to assist various international humanitarian organizations in the region. The aid consisted of essential drugs, medical supplies and surgical equipment needed to treat the wounded and to enable hospitals and medical centers to quickly respond to cases requiring urgent care or surgical intervention.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, himself coordinated in person on Wednesday the urgent humanitarian assistance to help those affected by the massive explosion that struck the Lebanese capital.
The deflagration, centred on the port city of Beirut, caused significant destruction and killed 137 people; adding to the misery in a country already in deep economic and social crisis.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the ruler's representative in the Al-Dhafra region and president of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), will oversee the provision of this assistance, which includes 30 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment, dietary supplements for children and other essential supplies.
Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan remarked on the social networking site Twitter that "our thoughts and prayers are with our Lebanese brothers and sisters during these difficult times. "We pray that God will grant you patience and comfort. God bless Lebanon and the Lebanese people," he added.
ERC said it is coordinating with the Humanitarian Aid Office at the UAE Embassy in Beirut to prioritize the current phase of aid and the real needs of the Lebanese, especially in the field of health.
Emergency aid and field hospital supplies are on their way to Lebanon as the world offers support to the devastated Lebanese capital.
Emergency medical aid and field hospitals were sent to Lebanon on Wednesday, along with rescue experts and search dogs. At the same time, expressions of sympathy were arriving from all over the world.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab called on "friendly countries" to support a nation already recovering from its worst economic crisis in decades, as well as from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Gulf States were among the first to respond. Thus, Qatar announced that it would send field hospitals to relieve the pressure on Lebanon's strained medical system.
Teams from Al-Udeid air base in Doha loaded hundreds of folding beds and generators onto an air force cargo plane, one of four that flew from the Gulf to the Mediterranean country on Wednesday.
Medical supplies from Kuwait arrived in Beirut on Wednesday, as the Lebanese Red Cross said more than 4,000 people were being treated for injuries after the explosion blew out glass and debris.
Iranian President Hassan Rohani said Tehran was "ready to offer medical help and to help treat the injured. Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan also promised to send a field hospital, as reported by Middle East Online.
France also mobilized, and, as victims were being rescued from the rubble, indicated that it was sending search-and-rescue experts aboard military aircraft loaded with tons of medical equipment and a mobile clinic.
French President Emmanuel Macron is already in Lebanon to "meet with all political actors" in the aftermath of the disaster, the office of the president said. "France is at Lebanon's side. Always," Macron wrote in Arabic on the social network Twitter.
Cyprus, which is just 150 miles northwest and was rocked by Tuesday's explosion, also said it would send eight police sniffer dogs and their handlers aboard two helicopters to help in the search for victims.
Dutch authorities announced that 67 aid workers were headed to Beirut, including doctors, police officers and firefighters, and the Czech Republic sent 36 rescuers, including dog handlers, trained to search for those trapped in the wreckage.
Neighbouring and rival Israel also offered humanitarian aid, even though it was still technically at war with Lebanon.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his "deepest sympathy for the horrific explosions in Beirut," which he said had also injured some U.N. personnel.
Syrian President Bashar al-Asad wrote to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun in support: "On behalf of the Syrian Arab people, we extend our deepest condolences to you and the Lebanese people.
Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims and their families so that they may "face this extremely tragic and painful moment and, with the help of the international community, overcome the grave crisis they are experiencing.