UAE steps up humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza during Ramadan

The UAE’s latest initiatives build on its ongoing efforts to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. These initiatives aim to provide rapid and coordinated aid, particularly to vulnerable populations such as women, children and the elderly.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, said that the directives of the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reflect his commitment to improving the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, particularly in the Strip. from Gaza. and alleviate their suffering.

He highlighted the UAE’s long-standing fraternal ties with the Palestinian people and its commitment to providing continued support through humanitarian initiatives.

The UAE launched the ‘Galant Knight 3’ on November 5, 2023, led by the Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defense, in cooperation and coordination with the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), Khalifa Bin Foundation Zayed Al Nahyan, the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and other charities in the United Arab Emirates, with the aim of providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Humanitarian aid was delivered to the Gaza Strip via 212 aircraft and two cargo ships, and a third additional aid ship is currently en route from the United Arab Emirates to the Egyptian city of Al Arish. In total, 922 trucks loaded with various aid items were mobilized, of which 521 have already entered the Gaza Strip.

The total aid provided amounted to 21,000 tons of food, health aid and shelter materials, coordinated with international organizations, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza.

The country launched the “Tarahum – for Gaza” campaign to help Palestinians affected by the conflict. More than 24,000 volunteers participated nationwide and assembled 71,000 relief baskets using locally sourced materials.

At the end of February, the United Arab Emirates launched Operation “Birds of Good” to deliver 293 tons of aid via Emirati and Egyptian aircraft. Joint crews from both nations carried out the launch operation over the northern Gaza Strip.

The county also built the Emirates Field Hospital in Gaza, which has 200 beds and is staffed by more than 100 medical professionals. The hospital treated 8,798 cases and offered a wide range of medical services including orthopedics, women’s and children’s surgeries, anesthesia, internal medicine, dentistry, psychiatry, family medicine and CT scans. It also houses a laboratory and a pharmacy, and provides medical supplies to support other hospitals in the sector.

In addition, the UAE Floating Hospital was inaugurated and anchored in Al Arish Port to provide essential medical treatment and support to the Palestinian community. Equipped with various medical and administrative professionals, covering specialties such as anesthesia, general surgery, orthopedics and emergency care, as well as nurses and auxiliary staff, the hospital has a capacity of 100 beds. It is equipped with operating rooms, intensive care units, radiology facilities, laboratory, pharmacy and medical storage spaces.

As part of the healthcare initiative in UAE hospitals, 1,056 patients and their companions were accommodated, including 545 injured children and people with cancer, along with 511 companions. This initiative aims to host 1,000 Palestinian children, accompanied by their families, for treatment in the country, and provide treatment to 1,000 Palestinian cancer patients.

Additionally, six water desalination plants were established, generating 1.2 million gallons of drinking water per day to sustain more than 600,000 people. In addition, five automated bakeries were installed to meet the daily needs of more than 72,000 people. Each bakery has a production capacity of approximately 15,000 loaves per hour. In addition, these bakeries supply flour to seven existing bakeries in Gaza, serving the daily needs of about 14,000 people, thus partially satisfying the food needs of the region’s population.