UAE ship carrying 2,400 tonnes of aid headed for Beirut

Food, medical supplies, PPE and clothes sent to Lebanese capital following deadly blast last month

Damaged cars are pictured in front of billowing smoke behind the grain silos at the port of Beirut. AFP

A drone picture shows smoke from the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut. AP Photo

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun wears a protective face mask as he visits the scene of Tuesday's explosion in Beirut. AFP

An emergency command vehicle of the Lebanese Red Cross is pictured in the aftermath of yesterday's blast. AFP

A man inspects the damage of yesterday's blast. AFP

A survivor is taken out of the rubble after a massive explosion in Beirut. AP Photo

A damaged hospital is seen after a massive explosion in Beirut. AP Photo

Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut.AP Photo

An ambulance drives near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

Lebanese national flags fly at half-mast outside the presidential palace in Baabda, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A woman is evacuated from the partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP

An injured man sits next to a restaurant in the trendy partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP

A man walks past damaged building and vehicles near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A man wearing a protective face mask walks past damaged buildings and vehicles near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A woman sweeps at a damaged hospital following Tuesday's blast, in Beirut. Reuters

A man wearing a face mask moves a gurney at a damaged hospital following Tuesday's blast in Beirut. Reuters

The wreckage of a ship is seen following yesterday's blast at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP

A view shows the aftermath at the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

Lebanese soldiers and people gather outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters

An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre following an explosion in Beirut. Reuters

The explosion caused damage to Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office

The damage at Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office following the blast.

Pictures of the damage at Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office

People gather outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters

Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters

Damaged vehicle and buildings near the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images

A view shows the damaged facade of a building following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

A view shows the aftermath of yesterday's blast at the port of Beirut. AFP

A man pushes a buggy with a child on Wednesday past a damaged vehicle near the scene of overnight blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

In this drone picture, the destroyed silo sits in rubble and debris. AP Photo

People inspect the damage near the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

People inspect the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters

Shattered glass lies in front of a building following a blast in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP

Lebanese army troops carry a wounded man evacuated from a ship at Beirut's port. AFP

This picture shows damage at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport. Courtesy Lebanese Plane Spotters / Facebook

A ship loaded with 2,400 tonnes of aid left the Emirates for Beirut on Tuesday.

The aid was dispatched by Emirates Red Crescent in co-ordination for the Lebanese Embassy in the UAE, on the orders of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and chairman of the organisation.

The shipment includes food, medical supplies, children’s food supplements, sanitisers, personal protective equipment and clothes. It aims to support the Lebanese community affected by last month's explosion at Beirut Port that killed almost 180 people and injured more than 6,000.

The blast collapsed buildings and shattered windows tens of kilometres away, causing an estimated $20 billion in damages, according to a report by Strategy&.

ERC officials and Fouad Dandan, Lebanese Ambassador to the UAE, watched the ship leave for Beirut from Jebel Ali port in Dubai.

"The ERC has drafted a comprehensive plan, in co-ordination with the Humanitarian and Development Affairs Office of the UAE Embassy in Beirut and relevant Lebanese authorities, to distribute the ship’s contents to people affected by the crisis," said Dr Mohammed Al Falahi, Secretary-General of the ERC.

He said the UAE would continue to support the Lebanese people with more aid deliveries and initiatives planned, reported state news agency Wam.

Mr Dandan thanked the UAE for its assistance saying the country has always supported Lebanon.

Last month, two planes loaded with 30 tonnes of aid left Dubai International Humanitarian City for Beirut. The shipments were the third sent from Dubai to the Lebanese capital in August.

Immediately after the explosion, humanitarian agencies sent 43 tonnes of aid from the Dubai base. Syringes, bandages and surgical gowns were among the supplies on board worth more than Dh2 million.

On August 12, a second shipment containing 24.8 tonnes of medical aid left Dubai for Beirut. Worth more than $1.4 million (Dh5m), the aid contained urgent medical equipment, as well as PPE for front-line healthcare workers.