The United Arab Emirates has provided 38 tonnes of medical aid to Sudan on the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Al Maktoum Foundation, in a bid to assist the country in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

As per a state agency report, the Emirati aircraft carrying the medical supplies arrived at the Khartoum International Airport on June 9, where it was received by Prof. Siddiq Tawer, Member of the Transitional Sovereign Council and Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Health Emergencies, and Hamad Mohammed Humaid Al Junaibi, UAE Ambassador to Sudan. Along with them, Health Ministry officials, UAE Embassy members, and officials from the Al Maktoum Foundation's Khartoum office were also present at the Sudan airport.

Responding to the aid, Prof Tawer, on behalf of Sudan government, President and PM, thanked the UAE leadership for their assistance and support to the country's battle against the global health emergency. He further hailed Sheikh Hamdan’s contributions to Sudan through the foundation.

UAE Ambassador to Sudan Al Junaibi asserted that the medical aid has been provided to Sudan in view of UAE's continuous efforts to the country with cooperation from the foundation which has strengthened over time.

Releasing a statement, Mirza Al Sayegh, Director of the Office of Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, also highlighted the foundation's keenness on extending support to Sudan in areas of need such as water aid, education, orphan support and other charitable activities.

Praising Sheikh Hamdan's support to Sudan in combatting the pandemic, Ibrahim Adlan, Director-General of Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority, said that Khartoum Airport has created an air bridge for various humanitarian aid.

Earlier in May, the UAE had sent an aid plane with 11 metric tons of medical supplies to Sudan, which provided assistance t over 11,000 health professionals in containing the impact of the pandemic. In total, the UAE has provided approximately 54 tonnes of medical supplies to Sudan - amounting to 62% of the total global aid provided to the country - in their struggle against Coronavirus infections. As of June 11, Sudan has reported over 6500 COVID-19 infected cases, out of whom almost 2200 people have recovered from the disease.

WAM