UAE launches Homeland of Humanity initiative to help curb COVID-19

Amna Abdel-Raziq

The United Arab Emirates did not spare any effort to lift the suffering of those infected with the emerging coronavirus (COVID-19). The UAE has assisted many countries to help curb the pandemic, especially China, which is the pandemic epicenter.

In mid-March 2020, a total of 215 people of various nationalities were evacuated from China to the UAE and placed in the Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi.

The ‘UAE Homeland of Humanity’ initiative follows the orders of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to evacuate people from Arab and friendly countries from the landlocked area of Hubei, China to the UAE.

Sheikh Mohamed’s order is in line with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a gesture that reflects the UAE’s humanitarian approach to stand with brotherly and friendly countries and extend a helping need to them in difficult circumstances.

The people were evacuated by a plane equipped with all necessary medical equipment and supplies, and have been put under quarantine for 14 days at the Humanitarian City.

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed tweeted, “I share in the UAE’s commitment to the greater good for humankind as we evacuate foreign nationals in Hubei. They will receive the best medical care before they return home. We thank the Chinese government for its assistance and acknowledge the great work of our citizen volunteers.”

The UAE also conducted 860 COVID-19 tests for the total arrivals from the Chinese province from Arab and foreign countries who were received by the UAE in four stages and their results were all negative, in addition to conducting analyzes of the medical staff and the volunteer team, bringing the total tests to around 1,013.

The UAE also medical care for them and allocating a medical file to each of them because some of them suffer from chronic diseases and among them were pregnant women.

UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in China coordinated with the relevant countries the evacuation as part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese government to contain the spread of the coronavirus.