UAE aid arrives in Europe with support for Britain, following Africa and Asia

Nora Bandari

The UAE continues its efforts to provide support to countries around the world to tackle the corona virus.

From Africa to Asia and Europe

After the UAE sent aid and medical supplies to nearly 63 countries across Africa and to many Asian countries, it also sent aid to European countries. Most recently, Abu Dhabi sent about 6.6 tons of raw materials to Britain on June 5 to enable the UK to produce millions of protective equipment and medical masks to counter the corona virus.

UAE Ambassador to the UK Mansour Abdullah Khalfan Belhoul pointed out that Britain is one of the UAE’s closest friends and allies, adding that the UAE is committed to providing a helping hand wherever possible to help limit the spread of the Covid-19 corona virus. He pointed out that this shipment will enable the UK to manufacture millions of medical masks, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

Preventive efforts

This is not the first time that the UAE has sent aid to Britain. On April 30, Abu Dhabi, by order of UAE Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, sent 60 tons of personal protective equipment and medical equipment to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The UAE cooperated with the health authorities in Britain and it was agreed to turn the ExCel London exhibition and conference center, which is fully owned by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), into a temporary field hospital to face the repercussions of the corona virus.

On April 12, UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori and then-UK Minister of State for Trade Policy Conor Burns discussed ways to enhance economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries, as well as means to coordinate to increase solidarity and cooperation to combat the spread of the corona virus and confront its effects on the economy and society.

This comes within the context of the close and historical relations between the UAE and the United Kingdom, as well as the desire to contribute to providing all preventive measures for health personnel charged with tackling the global pandemic.

Emirati approach

The UAE aid comes within the framework of its solidarity and cooperation with countries around the world to limit the spread of the corona virus, as the UAE has sent more than 716 tons of medical aid to 63 countries. This was enabled due to the wise management by the government in Abu Dhabi to deal with the crisis as soon as the virus appeared, as the government directed its factories to produce personal protective equipment and maintain its stock of masks for the supply chain.

Good for humanity

The UAE has maintained its continuous approach to extend a helping hand to all who need help at all times and under all circumstances. Therefore, in light of the corona pandemic, the UAE has been at the forefront of donor countries for development aid, which has been praised by all international organizations and countries.

On June 5, the UAE announced that it was discussing with advanced research centers and laboratories in Abu Dhabi its preparations to conclude bilateral partnerships with international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and many countries to combat the corona virus, including the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, China, India, Brazil, Egypt, South Korea, France, Cuba, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Indonesia, in order “to exchange experiences, learn about the best experiences, and develop research aimed at finding rapid treatment, vaccine and testing systems for the corona virus,” according to WAM.