In line with its steadfast humanitarian dedication to the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, the United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has unveiled an urgent plan to transport 85 severely ill and injured individuals. These patients were afflicted with various ailments including cancer, blood disorders, congenital issues, neurological disorders, and heart, liver, and renal diseases, according to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General. Accompanying these patients were 63 family members and caregivers. The evacuees were flown to Abu Dhabi from Israel's Ramon Airport through the Kerem Shalom crossing to receive treatment at UAE hospitals. This operation underscores the necessity of swift humanitarian action to preserve lives and demonstrates the UAE's robust pledge to assist the Palestinian people in Gaza amid the dire circumstances enveloping the region.
Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, emphasized: “During this crucial period, the significance of this operation to transfer injured and ill Palestinians to Abu Dhabi cannot be overstated. This exceptional route highlights the severity of the humanitarian crisis and our dedication to mitigating the suffering of the Gaza Strip residents and ensuring the provision and distribution of aid through all feasible means, be it by land, sea, or air.” She further noted the UAE's ongoing and historical support for the Palestinian people, rooted in a profound belief in the urgency of providing relief and fostering peace to alleviate their profound distress. She also mentioned the UAE's hospitality towards 709 patients from Gaza, along with 787 family members, receiving medical treatment in the nation's hospitals, as instructed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE President, “may God protect him”, to care for 2,000 injured and cancer patients from the Strip.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, expressed gratitude to the UAE for its assistance in evacuating the sick and wounded from the Gaza Strip to receive the critical care they require. He hopes this initiative will lead to the creation of evacuation routes through various channels, including the Kerem Shalom crossing to Jordan and the Rafah crossing to Egypt, and subsequently to other countries. He also called for the resumption of evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where many patients are in dire need. Most critically, he reiterated the WHO's call for a ceasefire. The UAE has previously delivered over 40,000 tons of emergency aid, including food, relief, and medical supplies, via 8 ships, 337 flights, 50 airdrops, and 1,271 trucks. Recently, the fourth Emirati aid ship docked at Al Arish port, carrying the eighth batch of aid, with 5,340 tons of humanitarian supplies, marking the heaviest load since the inception of relief operations in the Strip.
