ABU DHABI // The first flight carrying humanitarian aid from the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation to the people of Yemen left Abu Dhabi yesterday.
The foundation said the flight would be the first of many before Ramadan begins next week, the state news agency Wam reported.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, ordered that the urgent food and medical assistance be delivered to the Yemeni people, based on directives given by President Sheikh Khalifa.
The humanitarian response is meant to help the thousands of people affected by the conflict between coalition forces and the Houthi militia.
The operation is being conducted alongside efforts by the Emirates Red Crescent, which has delivered more than 830 tonnes of aid to Yemen.
The foundation also sent shipments of 400 tonnes of food and 300 barrels of diesel fuel to Yemen’s Socotra island last month.
More than 100 lorries carrying Dh6.68 million worth of sleeping mats, blankets, kitchen sets and plastic tarpaulins were shipped from Jebel Ali Port to Yemen last month from Dubai International Humanitarian City by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Since the conflict in Yemen began, more than 717 metric tonnes of aid have been sent by sea and air from the UAE.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are also helping relief efforts to Yemen, earmarking US$274 million (Dh1 billion) and $100m respectively in humanitarian assistance.
The UAE is also taking part in Ramadan relief efforts in Palestine with the Human Appeal International charity announcing a $4m food-aid programme.
The Ajman-based organisation’s Bridge of Charity programme was hailed by Yousef Adeis, Palestinian minister of waqf and religious affairs. Mr Adeis said the aid agency had significantly contributed to alleviating the suffering of needy families, the poor, orphans and vulnerable groups in Palestine.
A similar project, which will provide hot meals and packaged foods to the disadvantaged during Ramadan, is being expanded on a global level by the foundation. More than 600,000 people in more than 60 countries are to receive aid through the International Iftar Project, now in its eighth year.
The project involves UAE embassies, organisations, and officials delivering the iftar packages to Muslims around the world.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
(via The National)
