UAE sends medical aid to Jordan, Columbia

LONDON - The United Arab Emirates sent 12.4 tonnes of medical supplies to Jordan in its latest global action to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The aid will help nearly 12,000 medical professionals as they work to contain the virus, according to state news agency WAM.

Emirati ambassador to Jordan Ahmed Ali Al Balushi highlighted the brotherly ties between the UAE and Jordan.

“What unites the UAE and Jordan is a true brotherhood that is firmly rooted in all political, economic, social and popular fields,” said Balushi.

“It is a model of distinguished Arab relations characterised by stability, depth and synergy on various fronts and is characterised by constructive cooperation in many areas at the official and popular levels,” he said.

“The dispatch of medical aid to Jordan today is a continuation of this approach of strong and distinguished relations and the support of the leadership and people of the UAE to our brothers in Jordan to curb the spread of COVID-19," he added.

The Gulf state also sent eight tonnes of medical supplies to Colombia destined to some 8,000 medical professionals in the South American country.

UAE’s ambassador to Colombia Salem Rashed Salem Al Owais said that The UAE was keen under its policy of co-operation and solidarity to develop its relations with many countries around the world.

“Despite the distance between our two countries, bilateral relations have witnessed remarkable development on all fronts, and the dispatch of medical assistance today affirms the strength of these relations,” said Al Owais.

“The UAE always stands with friendly countries and provides them with a helping hand, especially under these circumstances, which the entire world is facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

“The UAE hopes that medical assistance will contribute to enhancing the capacity of medical and nursing staff by providing them with additional protection,” he added.

The UAE’s aid is the second of its kind to Columbia in less than three months.

On April 8, the Gulf state sent 10 tonnes of medical supplies to Colombia for over 10,000 healthcare professionals.

The same flight also repatriated 63 Colombian citizens from the UAE.

To date, the UAE has responded to the pandemic by sending over 935 tonnes of aid to 66 countries in need, supporting more than 935,000 medical professionals so far.