Our nation is as one during difficult times

Emiratis have demonstrated great unity in supporting the families of our martyrs.

Huge crowds came to pay their last respect to UAE martyrs across the Emirates. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

News of the 45 Emirati servicemen who died defending our country’s national interests in Yemen caused a deep sense of loss felt right across the community. But with the pain of these three days of mourning comes the knowledge that we grieve together, and that the pride we feel is also shared.

We are going through this great tragedy together, as one people. Emiratis and members of the expatriate community have joined hands over the past few days to express their heartfelt condolences and offer their support to the families and friends of those who died in Friday’s attack on a munitions depot in Yemen.

Emirati society is small. Our people are all connected, if not through blood or marriage, then by their love for this young country. Few extended families, communities or workplaces have been untouched by this tragedy.

At any time of difficulty, true families come together. Large numbers of people have paid their respects to the servicemen who died to protect our security and help our brothers and sisters in Yemen. Across the seven emirates, thousands of people turned out for the funerals of men they had never met. As one mourner put it when attending the service for ­Mohammed Al Hosani and Mohammed Khalid at Bani Yas Cemetery in Abu Dhabi: "It is not important if I do not know them, we are one family and one nation."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and other senior leaders from across the country have visited the families of the fallen men to stand by them in their hour of need and to offer their support and the gratitude of the nation.

Across the country, there has been a quiet but palpable determination to carry on with the mission in Yemen, as well as to make a broader stand against extremism and preserve our way of life. Many people have given blood to treat the wounded, others have given money to help the aid effort in Yemen. Many young men have offered to take up arms to continue the fight.

Since the time of our founding father, Sheikh Zayed, this country has been on the frontline in its support for peace and unity among Arabs. As the events of the past few days have shown, this is a nation that stands united and determined to see out our mission to its completion.