Abu Dhabi: In a significant humanitarian operation, the United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), successfully evacuated 210 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, including 86 critically wounded patients.
The evacuees were transported to Abu Dhabi from Ramon Airport in Israel via the Kerem Shalom crossing, seeking urgent medical care in the UAE’s advanced healthcare facilities.
This operation marks the UAE’s twenty-second evacuation flight since the beginning of the ongoing conflict.
Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, the UAE’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organisations, expressed the nation’s unwavering commitment to supporting Palestinians in the midst of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Al Shamsi highlighted the strong cooperation between the UAE and WHO, underscoring the UAE’s enduring role in providing aid to those affected by the conflict.
“This new initiative reflects the strong levels of cooperation between the UAE and the World Health Organisation, and exemplifies the UAE’s steadfast and enduring commitment to support the brotherly Palestinians amid the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip,” Al Shamsi said.
The evacuation is part of a broader initiative launched by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to provide medical treatment to Palestinians in need.
Under this initiative, the UAE has committed to treating 1,000 wounded children and 1,000 cancer patients in its hospitals. To date, over 2,100 patients, including those accompanying the wounded, have been evacuated from Gaza to the UAE for medical care.
“We remain resolute in our collaboration with the United Nations, international partners, and relief organisations, and we will continue to extensively undertake a leading and pioneering role in providing advanced healthcare to wounded Palestinians and those suffering from incurable diseases,” Al Shamsi added.
“We are steadfastly supporting endeavours to alleviate this humanitarian crisis using all available means.”
In addition to the ongoing evacuation efforts, the UAE has been a crucial player in providing both immediate and long-term support to the Palestinian people.
Since the commencement of its operations on December 2, 2023, the UAE Field Hospital in southern Gaza has treated more than 50,000 cases. A hospital ship, operating since February 2024 and anchored at Al-Arish Port, has treated over 6,400 individuals.
The UAE’s commitment extends beyond medical treatment, as it has also provided more than 43,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, and relief items, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
This coordinated effort aligns with the UAE’s broader humanitarian mission, which continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by the conflict.
Through strategic partnerships and consistent action, the UAE remains at the forefront of providing vital assistance to the people of Gaza, offering hope and support during an incredibly challenging time.