Today's Edition
ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)
The UAE stands at the forefront of global efforts in providing crucial humanitarian aid to Gaza, leading the world with a substantial 27% contribution of all aid sent to the enclave, according to recent data, reflecting the UAE's steadfast support for the Palestinian people.
Following the UAE on the list are Turkey with 19% and Saudi Arabia with 18%. Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, expressed the UAE's unwavering commitment to providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
"The UAE continues its humanitarian support for the people of Gaza without fanfare, stemming from its steadfast stance in supporting our brothers in Palestine. The numbers speak for themselves about the Emirati leadership in the aid sent to Gaza. And we, in the UAE, have the right to be proud of our performance in dealing with this political and humanitarian crisis," he wrote in a post on X.
Until March 26, the UAE has provided approximately 21,182 tonnes of aid, delivered through various channels including 184 cargo planes, 3 cargo ships, and 574 land trucks, ensuring a continuous flow of essential supplies.
Medical Assistance
Central to the UAE's humanitarian endeavour is its robust medical response, facilitated by the "Gallant Knight 3" operation established under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE's field hospital in Gaza boasts the largest capacity among all other field hospitals with 200 beds, treating almost 10,000 patients to date.
The facility is equipped with surgical suites capable of a wide range of operations, intensive care units for both adults and children, and departments for anaesthesia, internal medicine, dentistry, orthopaedics, psychiatry, family medicine, paediatrics, and women's health, alongside supporting medical services. It also offers CT scans, X-rays, and pharmacies, equipped with the latest technology for various diagnostics and treatments, ensuring the highest international standards of care for its patients.
The recent addition of a floating hospital docked at Al Arish signifies the UAE's unique position as the sole contributor of two field hospitals to Gaza. The UAE is also one of the five countries to receive patients from Gaza for treatment in the country, recently welcoming 13th group of wounded Palestinian children and cancer patients, in response to the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to provide medical treatment for 1,000 wounded children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip, in the UAE's hospitals.
Improving Daily Life
Beyond medical assistance, the UAE's extensive commitment to assisting the Palestinian people encompasses crucial infrastructure projects aimed at improving daily life in Gaza. The UAE has built six water desalination plants in Gaza, collectively producing 1.2 million gallons of water daily and benefiting over 600,000 people, in addition to providing five automated bakeries, producing approximately 15,000 loaves of bread per hour.
Embodying the compassionate nature of the Emirati people, the country also launched the "Tarahum - for Gaza" campaign to assist Palestinians impacted by the conflict. As part of the initiative, over 24,000 local volunteers assembled 71,000 relief baskets from locally sourced materials.
Furthermore, the United Arab Emirates University's initiative to enrol 33 students from Gaza highlights the extension of the UAE's humanitarian efforts to education and support for Palestinian youth.
Collaborative Efforts
One of the standout initiatives spearheaded by the UAE and Egypt is the "Birds of Goodness" humanitarian operation, which exemplifies the spirit of Arab solidarity and determination to alleviate the hardships faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
This collaborative effort, made possible by the Emirates Red Crescent, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, and the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable & Humanitarian Foundation, relies on special GPS technology to airdrop aid to Gaza, delivering a total of 510 tonnes of food and relief since its inception.
On Monday, the UAE carried out another airdrop operation, joining forces with Jordan to deliver a total of 22 tonnes of food supplies, as part of the "Gallant Knight 3" humanitarian operation.
The UAE was also a key player in mobilising the support for the "Amalthea" international maritime corridor initiative, which aims to facilitate a mechanism for securely shipping humanitarian assistance from Cyprus to civilians in Gaza via sea.
The initiative is also endorsed by the European Commission, Cyprus, the UK, and the US. In line with the initiative, the UAE also collaborated with the World Central Kitchen to facilitate the first maritime delivery of aid to Gaza since October, donating almost 200 tonnes of rice, flour and proteins.
Another 240 tonnes of food aid are ready for a second sailing to Gaza from the Larnaca, Cyprus port. Moreover, in implementation of the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced on February 3 that the UAE has allocated $5 million to support the efforts of Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, further highlighting the Emirati humanitarian spirit and the desire to cooperate with various countries and organisations to address the ongoing crisis.
