Mohamed bin Zayed intensifying international contacts to contain Covid-19 outbreak

Mohamed Youssri

The United Arab Emirates keeps making contacts and delivering aid in order to contribute to the international fight against Covid-19.

The UAE has offered aid to several countries that are hit hard by the disease. It also airlifted the nationals of other Arab states who were stranded in countries suffering a major outbreak of the Covid-19 virus. It airlifted Yemeni and Sudanese students, including from China.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Zayed, also contacted a large number of calls with religious leaders around the world to discuss means of stemming the tide of the Coronavirus.

This comes within the policy of the UAE for preserving security and peace at the international level. Protecting the health of people and preserving their physical health is part of this policy.

When the Covid-19 virus hit in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the UAE moved – at the instructions of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed – to airlift Arab nationals from the city. The UAE also prepared special quarantine facilities for the reception of these nationals. These nationals spent 14 days at the quarantine facilities before they were airlifted to their home countries.

Document on Human Fraternity

The moves of the UAE in this regard came within the Document of Human Fraternity that was signed in February this year, under the auspices of the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyep, and the Vatican Pontiff, Pope Francis.

This is the world’s first document to promote fraternity among peoples and religions around the world.

Pope Francis

On March 29, Sheikh Mohamed conducted talks over the phone with Pope Francis on developments of the Covid-19 disease.

Bin Zayed expressed hopes that Italy and the Vatican would get over the current outbreak as soon as possible. He reaffirmed support by the UAE to Italy and the Vatican in the face of the current crisis.

Bin Zayed underscored the importance of the role religious institutions like the Vatican play. He expressed appreciation of the role Pope Francis plays in strengthening international unity against the disease.

He said the UAE would spare no effort in backing the international fight against the disease. The UAE, he said, would back countries in need of support until they get over the disease.