UAE convoy of one million COVID-19 vaccines reaches Gaza

CAIRO - A United Arab Emirates medical convoy of one million COVID-19 vaccines reached the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday, state news agency WAM said on Thursday.

The report said the Sputnik shots were the biggest medical support convoy from the UAE to the Palestinian strip since the start of the pandemic. 

These vaccines will be distributed immediately to vaccination centres to encourage people to get vaccinated as the Gaza Strip enters its fourth wave of the pandemic.

Ghazi Hamad, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development, thanked the UAE for its significant assistance, which comes at a critical time when the Gaza Strip is exposed to its fourth wave, to enhance the health sector's countermeasures of the pandemic.

In a press conference held at the Rafah Border Crossing after the shipment arrival, Hamad said that "the medical supplies shipment is large and appreciated from our brothers in the UAE."

He also thanked the Emirati leadership for the generous donation of medical equipment and the establishment of the UAE Hospital.

Former Palestinian Health Minister, Jawad al-Tibi, said "the health sector is one of the time-consuming sectors, and we are facing a global pandemic that requires unremitting efforts."

"The UAE sends aid after aid in order to support our steadfastness and address difficulties and disease in the Gaza Strip," he said adding that "this batch of UAE assistance came at the appropriate time to support the health sector and vaccinate students."