UAE sends 100,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Philippines

Humanitarian assistance aims to support archipelago's efforts to overcome Delta variant

A senior citizen is vaccinated with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine in a school-turned-vaccination site in Manila. Reuters

The UAE sent 100,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Manila on Thursday to support the Philippines' fight against the pandemic.

The plane load of crucial supplies flown to the capital city highlighted the UAE's commitment to support global efforts to overcome the virus.

Khaled Al Hajri, Charge d'Affaires at the UAE Embassy in Manila, said the Philippines was among the first countries to receive assistance from the Emirates after the coronavirus outbreak.

A plane carrying 7.3 million tonnes of medical supplies landed in the island nation in April 2020.

Mr Al Hajri said the delivery highlighted the strong ties between the two countries, which span several decades.

The Asian country has battled a recent surge in Covid-19 infections, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant, and has reported more than 1.7 million cases and 29,000 deaths to date.

In November, the UAE pledged more than $9.5 million to help the Philippines recover from Supertyphoon Goni which devastated the country.

At least 16 people were killed and tens of thousands of homes destroyed when the typhoon – which reached speeds of 225kph – tore through the island of Luzon.

A delegation from the UAE travelled to Manila, the country’s capital, to deliver emergency items including large quantities of material for shelter such as tents and tarpaulins.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the UAE has distributed more than 2,250 tonnes of aid to more than 130 countries.