Emirates in the time of the coronavirus: A country offering support to everybody

Doaa Emam

The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised the support offered by the United Arab Emirates to states strongly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

It especially dwelt on UAE medical supplies to these countries, saying these supplies helped thousands of health service workers in them do their jobs properly.

The UAE support to these countries comes as restrictions continue to be placed on travel and governments take measures to contain the pandemic.

UAE’s gift to humanity

The UAE offered support to over 56 states, including 650 tons of different medical supplies. These supplies aimed to assist health service workers better fight the coronavirus. They amounted to a lifeline to countries hit hard by the pandemic.

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, said the UAE had provided his organization with four planes that helped it transfer supplies and technical teams to affected countries.

Helping hand

UAE charities are racing against each other to be part of this national effort to help countries affected by the coronavirus.

Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works is one of these charities and organizations.

Foundation Director-General, Hamad Salem bin Kardous al-Ameri, revealed that his foundation had participated in the transfer of Arab nationals from Wuhan in China.

He said when they arrived in the UAE, these Arab nationals received comprehensive care under supervision from specialized medical teams.

“The UAE dedicates all its capabilities to carry out this human duty and offer support to those in need,” al-Ameri told the Emirati newspaper, al-Bayan. “This is turning our country into a refuge for those who need support.”

Feel At Home

The Emirates Red Crescent declared in May that it would sponsor the dependents of coronavirus victims of all nationalities.

It said this would be part of its “Feel At Home” initiative which bolsters the social services offered by the organization.

The initiative supports the dependents of coronavirus victims and mitigates the effects of this tragedy on them. It provides these dependents with their basic needs to help them overcome this difficulty.

Emirates Red Crescent Secretary-General, Mohamed Ateeq al-Falahi, said his organization would do its best to stand in solidarity with the victims of the coronavirus.

“We will do our best to help them get over the social, economic and psychological effects of this experience,” al-Falahi said.