UAE sends 56 tonnes of Covid aid to Indonesia

Plane flies oxygen cylinders, respiratory equipment and Covid vaccines to archipelago

Indonesia has been badly affected by the Covid pandemic and is in dire need of vaccines. AFP

The UAE on Saturday sent a plane to Indonesia carrying 56 tonnes of medical supplies, including oxygen cylinders, respiratory equipment and coronavirus vaccines, in support of efforts there to combat the pandemic.

Abdullah Salem Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia, praised the strong relations between the countries, reflected in continuous contacts, cross visits and growing cooperation between the two countries.

"Indonesia was among the first countries to receive medical aid from the UAE to combat Covid-19 in April 2020," he said.

In May this year the UAE sent an aircraft carrying 48 tonnes of food to Indonesia to support its Covid fight.

In January it sent urgent humanitarian aid to people affected by the earthquake that rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.