UAE dispatches aid planes to Colombia, Kazakhstan

The latest humanitarian gesture is expected to benefit Colombia’s more than 10,000 healthcare employees. (WAM)

• Another UAE aid plane was sent to Kazakhstan carrying about 13 tons of medical supplies

DUBAI: A UAE aircraft loaded with 10 metric tons of medical supplies was sent to Colombia to help the South American country address its coronavirus problem, state news agency WAM reported.
The latest humanitarian gesture is expected to benefit Colombia’s more than 10,000 healthcare employees.
“The delivery of aid by the UAE comes in furtherance of our nation’s belief in providing critical assistance where needed and demonstrating solidarity with those facing unprecedented challenges such as the one the world is now witnessing with COVID-19,” Salem Rashid Al-Owais, the UAE Ambassador to Colombia, said.
Al-Owais also said the aircraft repatriated 63 Colombians from the UAE after coordination between Emirati and Colombian officials.
Meanwhile, another aid plane was sent to Kazakhstan carrying about 13 tons of medical supplies to help the country in curbing the coronavirus spread there.
“The UAE is committed to extending support to countries affected by the COVID-19 crisis in recognition that multilateral cooperation is essential to the international community overcoming this humanitarian crisis,” Dr. Mohammed Ahmed bin Sultan Al-Jaber, the UAE envoy to Kazakhstan, said.
“This aid is one of numerous shipments that the UAE has dispatched since the start of the crisis. In addition to country-specific aid, the UAE has partnered with the WHO to enhance the global response to COVID-19,” he added.