UAE's leaders send aid worth millions to Lebanon

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed sends tonnes of Covid-19 equipment for medics and Sheikha Fatima donates Dh10m to the relief fund

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.

The UAE sent tens of millions of dirhams worth of aid to Lebanon on Thursday.

President Sheikh Khalifa donated 12 tonnes of protective equipment to safeguard against Covid-19.

The equipment, sent on the orders of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will support more than 10,000 front-line medical staff in Lebanon.

“The move is part of a series of humanitarian response operations carried out by the UAE to support brotherly and friendly countries to fight Covid-19," state news agency Wam reported.

Sheikha Fatima, chairwoman of the General Women's Union and president of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, donated Dh10 million to support victims of the recent Beirut blast that shattered the city on Tuesday.

The money will go to Emirates Red Crescent's relief project, which supports those affected by the crisis.

“She was quick to respond in order to limit the health problems created by the explosion that shook Beirut on Tuesday evening,” said Wam.

ERC said the Dh10 million donation will help provide urgent health equipment as the population faces “massive health challenges due to the size of the disaster and damage caused”.

A huge explosion at Beirut's port killed at least 137 people, wounded about 5,000 and caused widespread destruction.

French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Lebanon on Thursday for a visit to provide support.

"Lebanon is not alone," he wrote on Twitter, after he was met at the plane by Lebanon's President Michel Aoun.