The United Arab Emirates sent an aid plane carrying 9 metric tons of medical supplies and 10,000 testing kits in a bid to support the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical supplies will provide assistance to approximately 9,000 medical professionals in Costa Rica as they work to save the citizens from the virus.

Welcoming the humanitarian aid, Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado expressed his deep thanks to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces for providing the medical supplies. President Alvarado went on to express appreciation to the UAE government for the repatriation of Costa Rican citizens from the country. The aid was significantly sent to Costa Rica as part of the UAE's humanitarian efforts to help countries across the world in containing the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

Responding to the aid delivery, Juma Rashid Khamis Ahmad Al Rumaithi, UAE Ambassador to Costa Rica, asserted that the medical assistance provided to Costa Rica confirms the strength and durability of the bilateral relations between the two countries. He further hailed the support and guidance of the leadership of both the UAE and Costa Rica following which bilateral relations have witnessed a quantum leap.

"This contributed to building a strategic partnership and led to enhanced cooperation, trade, and development between the two countries," the UAE Ambassador to Costa Rica added. The Central America country, with over 5 million population, has reported over 1600 Coronavirus positive cases so far.

He also reassured that the UAE is always keen to stand by brotherly and friendly countries and help medical teams that are among the most vulnerable to the pandemic. According to state news agency WAM, the UAE has so far provided over 904 metric tons of aid to more than 60 countries across the world in their consistent struggle to contain the pandemic. The aid, including medical supplies, PPE kits, and ventilators, has provided support to over 904,000 medical professionals in the process.

WAM