As the fight against COVID-19 crisis continues across the world, the UAE has dispatched a consignment containing 13 metric tons of medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and testing kits to 14 Pacific Island countries, including: Marshall Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Cook Islands, and Niue. The medical aid will provide assistance to hundreds of healthcare professionals across the region as they work around the clock in treating infected patients.

Speaking about the delivery, Abdulla Al Subousi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Australia, said that the aid shipment to Pacific Island nations highlights the UAE’s continued efforts to support these countries as they work towards containing the spread of COVID-19. These essential medical supplies will protect and strengthen the efforts of healthcare personnel working tirelessly to save the citizens in the region.

In addition, Matar Al Mansoori, Chargé d'Affaires of the UAE Mission in Wellington, stated that the UAE is working diligently to strengthen the relations with Pacific Island countries and expand the friendship towards broader horizons across all fields.

"The UAE's assistance is part of the support for development efforts in Pacific Island countries to help them tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide medical supplies to enhance capacity and ensure the adequate protection of medical personnel," he added.

To date, the UAE has provided more than 1,277 metric tons of aid to more than 100 countries as part of their humanitarian efforts in response to their COVID-19 crisis. These supplies have provided assistance to more than 1.2 million medical professionals across the world in the process.

WAM