UAE... Immediate response to call of humanitarian duty in Syria and Türkiye

ABU DHABI, 8th February, 2023 (WAM) -- The UAE has responded immediately to the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye, reaffirming its full solidarity with the leadership and peoples of the two countries.

The UAE's urgent mobilisation, its presence among the first countries on the ground, and its participation in rescue operations constitutes a clear embodiment of its humanitarian presence and a sincere expression of its full solidarity with affected communities around the world through relief and humanitarian programmes and projects.

Immediate solidarity

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made phone calls with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye, expressing his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the two presidents, their peoples, and the families of those affected, wishing for a speedy recovery for those who were injured.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed emphasised the UAE's support for Syria and Türkiye and offered to provide any assistance in their efforts to mitigate the impact of the earthquake.

Directives

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed directed the establishment of a field hospital and the dispatch of search and rescue teams for people affected by the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye, in addition to the provision of urgent relief supplies and emergency aid to help families in the hardest-hit areas.

Gallant Knight / 2

In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence announced the launch of “Gallant Knight / 2” operation to provide assistance for the peoples of Syria and Türkiye.

The operation includes the participation of the Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation; and the Emirates Red Crescent.

Financial aid

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered an aid package totalling US$100 million for earthquake relief in Syria and Türkiye, with the aid being divided equally between the two countries.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, directed the dispatch of urgent humanitarian aid worth AED50 million to the brotherly Syrian people, in order to provide relief to those affected by the most devastating earthquake that the country has witnessed in decades.

Bridges of Goodness

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) and the Ministry of Community Development, called for participation in the "Bridges of Goodness" campaign to assist in gathering and assembling relief supplies for quake-ravaged Türkiye and Syria.

The campaign will begin with the packaging of the initial aid on 11th February from 09:00 to 14:00 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and the Dubai Exhibition Centre, at Expo City Dubai.

Starting on 12th February, the ERC and the partnering UAE humanitarian and charitable organisations will directly collect donations in cash and in kind over the course of two weeks.

Coordination and priorities

The UAE was one of the first countries to be on the field in the affected areas, as Major General Saleh Mohammed bin Mujren Al Ameri, Commander of the Joint Operations, affirmed that the UAE relief mission has been present since the first stage with the international search teams that arrived in Türkiye, followed with the arrival of 3 military planes last Monday carrying search and rescue teams and medical aid.

He stressed that field operations are being fully coordinated according to the priorities and urgent needs determined by Syria and Türkiye.

Since its establishment, the UAE has been keen to make humanitarian and development support an essential part of its foreign policies, as it has topped the global lists of the largest donors in the field of development aid in comparison to its national income.

The aid embodies the Ninth Principle of ‘’The Principles of the 50’’ which states, “The UAE’s foreign humanitarian aid is an essential part of its vision and moral duty towards less fortunate peoples and that the foreign humanitarian aid is not tied to religion, race, colour or culture.”

Hazem Hussein/ Khoder Nashar