Dubai sends second aid flight to help Beirut

Medical shipment of 24.8 tonnes leaves Dubai International Humanitarian City

Emergency aid is loaded onto plane at Dubai airport on Wednesday to support Beirut after the port explosion. On Thursday, the UAE's leaders pledged millions more in in funding and tonnes of equipment for the relief effort. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aid includes medical equipment to treat injured patients and protect medical staff. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aid is loaded on a plane to Lebanon at Dubai airport to support Beirut after the explosion. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aid is loaded on a plane to Lebanon at Dubai airport to support Beirut after the explosion, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Aid is loaded on a plane to Lebanon at Dubai airport to support Beirut after the explosion. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Staff from the WHO and Red Cross and Red Crescent sprung into action on Tuesday night as the death and injury toll in Beirut became clear.

The first flight will carry 40 tonnes, mostly bandages, syringes and other medical equipment. Food shipments are expected to follow.

Medical aid is loaded on to a truck at International Humanitarian City in Dubai. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

George Maina, warehouse manager for IFRC, pictured at Humanitarian City outside Dubai.

Staff worked quickly to prepare the shipment for a cargo flight on Wednesday afternoon.

Staff worked quickly to prepare the shipment for a cargo flight on Wednesday afternoon.

Staff worked quickly to prepare the shipment for a cargo flight on Wednesday afternoon.

WHO, Red Cross and Red Crescent societies donated the shipment.

Nevien Attalla, operations manager for WHO's Dubai hub, said the shipment had to double in size once the scale of the situation became clear.

Medical aid worth more than $1.4 million (Dh5m) will arrive in Lebanon on the latest humanitarian aid flight that left Dubai on Wednesday.

One week on from the devastating blast at the port in Beirut, those affected by the damage remain in desperate need of support from outside of the country.

The latest Emirates SkyCargo airlift of supplies from Dubai International Humanitarian City included 24.88 metric tonnes of urgent medical equipment, as well as PPE for front-line healthcare workers.

The shipment contained surgical masks, goggles, gowns, N95 respirators, stretchers and thermometers.

“Based on the needs identified by our medical staff in Lebanon, we are dispatching additional medical supplies that are critically needed to treat those affected by the blast and simultaneously protect health care workers treating patients during the pandemic,” said Robert Blanchard from the World Health Organisation’s logistics hub in Dubai.

“Responding to an emergency within an emergency, the WHO is grateful for the support received from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid [Vice President and Ruler of Dubai], the Government of the UAE, Dubai’s IHC and Emirates Sky Cargo to facilitate the rapid response to the people of Lebanon.”

The new aid consignment to Lebanon was sent on the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the government of Dubai.

It is the second aid flight to leave the UAE after tens of millions of dirhams worth of supplies were sent to Lebanon last Thursday to support 10,000 medical staff.

Sheikha Fatima, chairwoman of the General Women's Union and president of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, also donated Dh10 million to support blast victims.

Food is likely to be the next priority for foreign aid arriving into the country as a grain silo destroyed in the huge explosion left the city facing a shortage of bread.

About 85 per cent of grain comes into the country via the port but its destroyed infrastructure has left Beirut unable to receive new shipments.

Meanwhile, 138 tonnes of glass in six shipment containers will depart for Lebanon from Dubai to repair thousands of windows shattered in homes and shops. This was organised by members of the Lebanese Business Council.

“This second flight to Lebanon demonstrates the capacity of the International Humanitarian City’s community in responding to emergencies and to help those most in need at such a challenging time,” said Giuseppe Saba, chief executive of the International Humanitarian City.