ABU DHABI (WAM)
International officials from UN humanitarian organisations have praised the UAE's generous and decisive support in alleviating the suffering and dire conditions faced by the people of Gaza since the outbreak of the war.
UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), Muhannad Hadi, stated that amidst the immense humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the UAE has shown unwavering solidarity and commitment to the Palestinian people.
Its generous support during these challenging times underscores its dedication to alleviating the humanitarian crisis, he added.
Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Palestinian Territory, Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, expressed WHO’s gratitude to the UAE for its continuous support in bolstering Gaza’s struggling health services in coordination with WHO.
He highlighted that the UAE’s facilitation of relief efforts, including the medical evacuation of patients from Gaza, serves as a vital lifeline for those in dire need.
Since October 2023, the UAE has received 1,149 patients from Gaza, including 266 evacuated following the closure of the Rafah crossing—the highest number evacuated to a single country between May and November 2024, he said.
Stephen Anderson, World Food Programme Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council, lauded the UAE’s leadership in consistently standing with communities in need during crises.
Anderson pointed out that as food insecurity in Gaza reaches inhumane levels and humanitarian workers face mounting risks, the UAE's steadfast commitment to supporting the Palestinian people serves as an inspiring example.
UNICEF Area Representative for the Gulf, Eltayeb Adam, emphasised that the UAE's humanitarian response in the face of unprecedented suffering in Gaza, including life-saving supplies and vaccination campaigns, is a testament to the strength of global solidarity.
UNICEF remains committed to collaborating with the UAE to protect Gaza's children and provide them with opportunities to rebuild their future.
Data from the Financial Tracking Service of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed that the UAE topped the list of countries providing the most support to the people of Gaza between October 2023 and November 2024, providing $828 million—accounting for 42 percent of total aid, as reported by the German Press Agency (dpa).
In light of declining land-based aid access, the UAE and international partners established a maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza, delivering 4,021 tonnes of essential supplies.
Additionally, the "Birds of Goodness" operation carried out 53 airdrops, delivering 3,623 tonnes of food and relief items to inaccessible areas since the start of the war.
Over a year, "Operation Chivalrous Knight 3" successfully delivered a massive amount of aid to Gaza, including 1,620 aid convoys, six shiploads of supplies, and 519 airlifts carrying over 47,000 tonnes of essential items like food, shelter, and medical supplies.
Securing Water Access
Recognising that water is the lifeline of existence, UAE initiatives have focused on supplying and operating a total of six desalination plants in the Egyptian city of Rafah.
These plants have a combined capacity of 1.2 million gallons of water daily, providing essential water supplies to Gaza, and benefiting over 600,000 residents.
Additionally, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 has worked to deliver water daily to thousands of displaced people, alleviating their suffering and addressing their basic needs.
This includes rehabilitating water supply networks in several areas and launching an urgent relief project to deliver water to disaster-stricken areas crowded with displaced persons and residents.
Treating Children and Cancer Patients
With the extensive damage to the medical and healthcare systems, an initiative by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has become a lifeline for many.
This initiative aims to provide medical treatment for 1,000 injured children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip at the UAE's hospitals, hosting them along with their companions in the Emirates Humanitarian City.
It provides critical care and life-saving surgeries unavailable within the Gaza Strip.
Furthermore, evacuation operations for patients and the injured have continued, with the UAE receiving a total of 2,127 injured individuals and their companions for treatment.
Rehabilitation of Nasser Medical Complex
In the healthcare sector, alongside the services provided to Gaza residents through the Emirati field hospital in Gaza's Rafah, the UAE announced in April 2024, as part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, its plans to rehabilitate the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.
This facility suffered extensive damage, leaving its medical staff and critical departments, including surgical and recovery units, non-operational.
The UAE initiative aims to restore the Nasser Medical Complex, given its vital location in southern Gaza, an area now home to approximately 1.5 million residents and displaced persons.
The Floating Hospital
The UAE also deployed its Floating Hospital in Al Arish, Egypt to provide essential medical services and support to Palestinian patients and injured evacuated from Gaza through the Rafah Border Crossing.
This floating hospital, established in collaboration with the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi and the AD Ports Group, features a 100-bed capacity.
It includes operating rooms, intensive care units, radiology services, a laboratory, a pharmacy, and medical storage facilities.
Operated by a team of 100 healthcare and administrative professionals, including specialists in anesthesia, general surgery, orthopaedics, and emergency medicine, the hospital has provided treatment to 7,554 individuals to date.
The Field Hospital
Earlier, on December 2, 2023, less than two months after the outbreak of the war, the UAE launched its field hospital in Rafah as part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.
With a capacity of 200 beds, the hospital includes intensive care units for adults and children, an anesthesia department, and specialised clinics such as internal medicine, dentistry, orthopedics, psychiatry, family medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.
The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art surgical rooms capable of performing various surgeries, including general surgery, pediatric surgery, and vascular surgery.
Notably, in the past year, it has treated 50,489 patients.
Polio Vaccination Campaign
In a significant effort to support Gaza’s medical and health needs, particularly for children, the UAE allocated $5 million under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the international campaign to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza against polio.
The campaign successfully administered vaccines to over 557,000 children, with the UAE collaborating with the WHO, UNICEF, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Emirates Humanitarian City
The Emirates Humanitarian City provides a safe and supportive environment for Palestinian families.
The city is run by UAE government departments and private sector partners, who work together to ensure the comfort and rehabilitation of residents.
Services include basic living support and coordination for the treatment of injured and sick individuals transported to the UAE for care.
Ongoing Emirati Support
Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the UAE continues its humanitarian and relief initiatives, standing steadfastly with the people of Gaza.
These efforts aim to alleviate suffering, support resilience, and help Palestinians remain on their land until the conflict ends and normal life resumes in Gaza.
The UAE remains committed to its long-standing humanitarian position in supporting the Palestinian people.