Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has ordered urgent humanitarian aid and medical supplies airlift from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Logistics Hub in Dubai to Sudan. Under Sheikh Mohammed’s directives, the International Humanitarian City (IHC) has chartered two aircraft that will deliver the aid to Sudan.

The immediate supply of medicines, medical supplies, and technical logistics personnel is extremely crucial at this time to support WHO and Sudan’s Ministry of Health who are dealing with the coronavirus health emergency and the escalating crisis in Sudan. The supplies will make up for the critical medicines shortage in health facilities and also increase access to protective equipment needed to manage Covid-19.

The two chartered aircraft will do rotations from Emirates SkyCargo, a member of the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance (DVLA), to transport the aid cargo from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Khartoum Airport. The first plane did its rotation in Khartoum on Sunday, 28th February. The second landed on Monday 1st March, carrying 54 metric tons of aid supplies with a total value of US$ 795,000. It is estimated to reach over 700,000 beneficiaries.

This is the first time Dubai’s WHO logistics hub is simultaneously deploying technical logistics staff and medical supplies from Dubai to boost health response and support WHO staff on the frontlines. Last year, from September to December 2020, IHC started a humanitarian air bridge to carry aid by the humanitarian community and stored within IHC warehouses in Dubai to extend support to the Sudanese people impacted by the floods and help thousands of refugees and displaced people escaping conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia to Sudan.

“By supporting the emergency response of its member community, IHC’s efforts reflect His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision for assisting populations affected by natural disasters and complex emergencies," said Giuseppe Saba, CEO of the International Humanitarian City. "IHC has been always together with its community and will continue to pro-actively support humanitarian actions and continue to serve communities in need,” he said.

The WHO and IHC are sending emergency health kits, personnel protection equipment, laboratory tests, and appropriated medical supplies stored in IHC premises, to help Sudan face the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.

“These supplies are a lifeline for people in need of health care in Sudan. Support from IHC has allowed us to deliver these supplies at a time when they are most needed, to make sure people have access to the health services they need and avoid unnecessary loss of lives. WHO is also grateful to the United States Agency for International Development, the European Commission for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, the Sudan Humanitarian Response Fund, and WHO’s Central Emergency Response Fund, whose generous contributions allowed the procurement of these urgently-needed supplies,” said Dr. Nima Abid, WHO Representative in Sudan.

WAM