Dubai sends aid as thousands of refugees flee Ethiopia

Two aircraft carrying medical supplies and humanitarian aid aim to assist people escaping Tigray conflict

Tonnes of medical aid are loaded into two aircraft at Dubai International Humanitarian City bound for Sudanese and Ethiopian refugees. All photos courtesy Dubai Media Office

The aid aims to assist the waves of refugees streaming into Sudan.

The aid was stored at International Humanitarian City in Dubai and sent by Emirates.

Dubai has opened an emergency air bridge to help tens of thousands of refugees fleeing fighting in Ethiopia.

Two plane loads of medical equipment and humanitarian supplies left the emirate over the past two days.

One aircraft carrying 96 tonnes of medical supplies for 200,000 patients provided by the World Health Organisation landed in Ethiopia from Dubai International Humanitarian City on Wednesday.
A second left Dubai on Thursday for neighbouring Sudan with 95 tonnes of relief and shelter aid onboard.

The aid was provided by organisations including United Nations Children's Fund; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, World Food Programme; and Doctors Without Borders.

The aid was ordered by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and aims to assist the escalating humanitarian situation affecting the lives of about 40,000 Ethiopian refugees, who are streaming into eastern Sudan.

“The medical supplies, valued at over $300,000, will cover an estimated 200,000 patients," said Robert Blanchard from the WHO’s logistics team in Dubai. "The rapid deployment of these life-saving medicines and medical supplies is vital to WHO’s ongoing health emergency response efforts, particularly as we simultaneously respond to the tremendous demands associated with a global pandemic.”

The conflict between the Ethiopian government and groups in its northern Tigray region has thrown the East African country into chaos.

Hundreds have reportedly died and the conflict has sent streams of refugees into Sudan.