On Saturday, following the fateful explosion which blew up Beirut in seconds, the United Arab Emirates sent humanitarian aid to the blast-torn city of Lebanon. The aid comprised 40 tonnes of medical and food supplies along with nutritional supplements for kids.

It was Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who ordered immediate transfer of aid to the Lebanese capital, in order to provide goods of basis sustenance to the victims of the explosion, at the earliest.

The aid, which was drawn out from the Gulf country's strategic emergency relief reserve

was sent under the supervision of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC).

With regard to the issuance of aid on urgent basis, Dr Mohammed Atiq Al Falahi, the ERC Secretary General said,"The directives of the wise leadership fall within the efforts made by the UAE to address disasters and crises around the world.” He added that UAE committed to provide full support to Lebanon with regard to any possible supplies and assistance which the crisis-riddled nation would need in order to stand back on its feet.

Dr Al Falahi said, “A comprehensive phased humanitarian plan has been put in place in response to the crisis, and during this stage the focus is laid on providing medical supplies in support of the Lebanese health facilities under the current tough circumstances to help them respond to the needs of the large number of victims.”

Headded, "The response plan includes a significant amount of assistance and psychological support for kids, specially that all available reports indicate an increased number of victims among children."

In order to make the supplies reach maximum number of victims, UAE’s ERC was working in collaboration with the Humanitarian Assistance Bureau at the UAE Embassy in Beirut. ERC has also been taking the daily follow-up of the ground situation from the related Lebanese authorities.

On Tuesday, Beirut witnessed the deadliest blast in its history which was occurred when over 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate, lying at the city’s commercial port, caught fire. The massive explosion reduced the city to rubble and took over 150 lives, injured about 6000 and left over 3,00,000 homeless.

WAM