UAE launches aid air bridge for Gazans

[Al Bhatti]

August 05, 2014

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum


Mohammed orders Gaza airlift resumption
ERC continues humanitarian efforts

With nearly 260,000 Gazan civilians in more than 90 UN shelters, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the resumption of flights to help supply UNWRA, the World Food Programme, WHO and other aid agencies struggling to help the victims of the Israeli assault on Gaza.


Over 1850 Gazans have been killed and over 9,000 wounded, with nine UN staff among those killed.

Seventeen flights have already been dispatched from Dubai using a combination of Boeing 747s and C130s transporting food, blankets, kitchen sets, and medicine and hygiene kits. As Dubai's International Humanitarian City (IHC) restocks its supplies, a Boeing 747 from Dubai has been sent to Brindisi, Italy, the site of the United Nations' second largest Humanitarian Depot (after Dubai), to collect 30,000 blankets and deliver them to Amman, Jordan for shipment by truck to Gaza.

With this eighteenth flight, the total operational cost has climbed to Dh23.3 million ($6.35 million). In addition, last week, HHSM ordered the dispatch of 100,000 meals under the "Salma" initiative.

Additional flights with C130s are expected to resume from Dubai later this week, as the IHC continues to coordinate with its member organisations, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Emirates Red Crescent (ERC).

Emirates Red Crescent continues humanitarian efforts in Gaza

Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) is continuing its humanitarian relief efforts for the 30th day in the Gaza Strip by distributing food baskets, water and first aid kits to displaced Gazans, who have fled their homes following the recent violence to take shelter in UNRWA-run schools.

Imad Abu Al Laban, ERC Director in Gaza, said that the organisation has so far distributed 3,000 food baskets, 3,000 aid kits, 3,000 clothes packages, and a thousand gallons of mineral water.

Abu Al Laban also said that the ERC will continue its relief efforts to help those affected by the current crisis, saying that several trucks loaded with amenities, prepared by the Emirati delegation in Egypt, are due to arrive within the next few days.

Mohammed orders Gaza airlift resumption - Emirates 24/7

 

[Al Bhatti]

August 19, 2014

Emirates Red Crescent ships medical supplies worth Dh13m to Gaza
Sixth delegation to leave with 10 trucks loaded with relief aid

The Emirates Red Crescent authority (ERC) has shipped medical supplies worth Dh13 million to Gaza.

This is in line with directives issued by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, and President of ERC.

The ERC sent five relief missions to Gaza during the past few weeks to provide food, medicine and other supplies to those who have been displaced and injured during the war. It has also set up a field hospital.

The sixth ERC delegation, headed by Humaid Al Shamsi, deputy secretary general of ERC for International Aid, will be accompanied by 10 trucks loaded with relief aid for those affected by the incidents.

Dr Mohammad Atiq Al Falahi, secretary-general of ERC, said: “The organisation was quick to respond to the humanitarian crises facing our brothers in Palestine. Five relief delegations have been sent so far to assist the displaced people who lost their homes in the war by providing food, tents, blankets and other necessities. In addition, the ERC has provided medical staff and equipment to its field hospital there, which treated thousands and performed surgeries on hundreds of people.”

The organisation’s mission in Gaza is expected to receive the latest shipment of medical supplies via Egypt, under the supervision of the UAE Embassy in Cairo.

Meanwhile, the ERC continued its intensive relief aid programme to those affected by the events in the Gaza Strip.

The ERC distributed food parcels and water to the displaced families whose homes have been destroyed and resorted to the UNRWA schools.

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