Khaleej Times

UAE, UN open air bridge for humanitari­an supplies

- Staff report reporters@khaleejtim­es.com

dubai — The

UAE in partnershi­p with the United

Nations

World Food Programme

(WFP) has launched an internatio­nal air bridge operation that will provide a lifeline of essential health and humanitari­an supplies to nations around the world grappling with the impact of Covid-19.

The UAE will dedicate a fleet of three aircraft to enable the movement of life-saving cargo and personnel to where they are needed most until the end of the year.

The air bridge will supply millions of medical items and thousands of tonnes of critical humanitari­an cargo to vulnerable communitie­s and frontline workers in more than 100 countries in the months to come.

“At this grave moment in history, when so many countries face enormous challenges at home, the UAE is once again stepping up as a leading first responder to global crises and making its

significan­t capabiliti­es available in the service of humanity,” said WFP executive director David Beasley.

abu dhabi — An internatio­nal air bridge operation has been launched by the UAE, in partnershi­p with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), to provide essential health and humanitari­an supplies to nations around the world grappling with the impact of Covid-19.

The UAE has dedicated a fleet of three aircraft to enable the movement of life-saving cargo and personnel until the end of the year.

The decision to boost support was taken within hours of a conversati­on between His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the WFP executive director David Beasley.

“At this grave moment in history, when so many countries face enormous challenges at home, the UAE is once again stepping up as a leading first responder to global crises and making its significan­t capabiliti­es available in the service of humanity,” said Beasley.

The first airlift departed Abu Dhabi carrying important medical equipment from Oslo to various locations. “The WFP has been working tirelessly to set up the logistics backbone for the global Covid-19 effort,” said Beasley.

The UAE-WFP air bridge operation will represent a major contributi­on to the Covid-19 Global Humanitari­an Response Plan launched by the UN SecretaryG­eneral at the end of March.

 ??  ?? SENDING HELP: The UAE has dedicated three aircraft to delivering aid where it is needed most.
SENDING HELP: The UAE has dedicated three aircraft to delivering aid where it is needed most.

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