The Emirates International Aid Agency continues its humanitarian efforts by providing $1.7 billion to support Gaza in facing the great challenges facing the region, as the agency seeks to improve the living conditions of the Palestinians and promote sustainable development in the local community by providing food and medical aid, providing educational support, and developing infrastructure, which contributes to achieving stability and prosperity in Gaza and reflects the UAE’s firm commitment to providing aid and assistance to countries in need in Times of crisis.
The UAE supports the Palestinian people with urgent humanitarian initiatives
The United Arab Emirates launched a package of urgent relief initiatives to support the Palestinian people, since the outbreak of war on October 7, until the success of the Sharm El-Sheikh negotiations. Among these prominent initiatives are the “Gentleman Knight” and “Birds of Charity” initiatives, in addition to a variety of humanitarian and social initiatives. These efforts came with the support of the Emirates International Aid Agency and the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, with the participation of many ministries, official agencies, and charitable and humanitarian institutions.
The volume and impact of UAE aid
The UAE provided thousands of tons of food, medical and relief aid, establishing field and floating hospitals, water desalination plants, bakeries and field kitchens, as well as humanitarian evacuations of the sick and injured for treatment in state hospitals. According to UN reports, the value of the UAE aid provided to the Gaza Strip amounted to more than $1.7 billion, which included food, medicine, water, and shelter materials, and targeted all groups, especially children, women, the elderly, and the sick.
Air and ground relief operations
The UAE carried out 74 airdrops of aid as part of the “Birds of Charity” initiative, whose cargo exceeded 4,004 tons of food and basic relief materials, with the total number of aid planes reaching 680 planes, including 405 cargo planes, 212 airdrop planes, and 25 planes to evacuate the sick and injured. The UAE also brought about 7,000 trucks loaded with aid into the Gaza Strip, in addition to 18 relief ships, the last of which was the ninth ship, “Hamdan,” which arrived at the Egyptian port of Al-Arish carrying 7,000 tons of food and medical aid.
Treatment and medical evacuation programmes
The UAE’s efforts were not limited to sending food and relief supplies, but rather extended to ongoing treatment and medical evacuation programs, as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan directed the implementation of evacuation operations for the wounded and injured, bringing the total number of those transported to 2,630 patients and companions across 25 evacuation flights. An initiative was also launched to treat a thousand cancer patients from Gaza in Emirati hospitals, where a number of them and their companions were received in the Emirates Humanitarian City.
Additional efforts in improving daily life
In light of the severe thirst crisis facing the sector, the UAE took the initiative to establish 6 water desalination plants, with a production capacity of two million gallons per day, benefiting more than one million people. The UAE also worked to restart stalled bakeries and establish 30 new bakeries to meet the bread needs of more than 76,000 people daily.
Ongoing diplomatic efforts
Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, the UAE has led intensive diplomatic efforts in cooperation with its regional and international partners, with the aim of preventing the escalation of violence and expanding its scope, while stressing the need for humanitarian, relief and medical aid to reach the Palestinian people urgently, safely and without any obstacles.
Conclusion
The UAE’s efforts to support the Palestinian people are evident through multiple initiatives that seek to meet their humanitarian needs, and the UAE always affirms its commitment to helping those in need, which reflects the spirit of Arab solidarity.
