Coronavirus: UAE sends 14 tonnes of urgent medical aid to Palestine

UN expresses its gratitude to government for delivery

A health worker watches as Palestinian labourers head to work in Israel through a checkpoint near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters

The UAE has sent 14 tonnes of urgent medical supplies to Palestine to support the coronavirus response and efforts to stop the spread of infection.

The office of the UN special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process expressed its gratitude to the Emirates for the delivery, which includes personal protective and medical equipment.

Among the supplies are 10 ventilators that are acutely needed, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said.

The aid supports efforts led by the government of Palestine to contain the pandemic and ease its effects.

Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE's permanent representative to the UN in New York, said the pandemic was an "international crisis that requires an international response".

"The UAE is grateful to UNSCO for facilitating support for the Palestinian people, and for the UN’s tireless efforts to co-ordinate and assist the global fight against the pandemic," Ms Nusseibeh said.

The special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, called the UAE an important partner and thanked the government for its support for the Palestinian people.

“The UAE's continued support for peace and for the Palestinian people at this critical time is highly valued," Mr Mladenov said.

"Global solidarity is in the interest of everyone. Today, we are facing the most challenging crisis since the Second World War.

"We can get through it only by working together."

The UAE has been one of the world’s leading contributors of Covid-19 aid, delivering more than 500 tonnes of aid to 47 countries.

On Tuesday, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, spoke with Philippe Lazzarini, the new chief of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

Dr Gargash said they spoke before the UAE takes over the chair of the agency's advisory board in July.

"Our commitment to the Palestinian cause and refugee support is principled," he said.

"UAE aid to the agency during the past six years amounted to $216 million [Dh793.3m], which included education, health and social services," he said.