Dubai establishes route for aid flights to Gaza Strip

Dubai has established a new route for aid flights specifically to deliver urgently needed medical supplies to Gaza. The route, under the guidance of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, will be utilized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to transport aid provided by the organization. The inaugural flight departed from Dubai Humanitarian, the emirate's emergency response center, on Tuesday, carrying 11 tonnes of essential medicine destined for Al Arish International Airport in Egypt.

Since then, three more flights have followed, each carrying additional supplies like medicine, tents, and fortified biscuits to address the nutritional needs of people on the ground. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, chairman of Dubai Humanitarian, highlighted that this air bridge builds on Dubai Humanitarian's ongoing efforts to support humanitarian operations in Gaza, in line with the directives from the UAE and Dubai's leadership to assist the people of Gaza.

Despite the challenges faced in the region, Dubai Humanitarian, with the support of its partners, has facilitated several air bridges and relief shipments this year to countries including Afghanistan, Mozambique, Lebanon, and Uganda. The four flights thus far are part of a larger operation through which Dubai Humanitarian aims to facilitate the dispatch of around 150 tonnes of WHO medical and health supplies to Gaza in the coming weeks, with more flights planned.

The supplies, packed at the WHO Global Logistics Centre hosted by Dubai Humanitarian, are being delivered as part of the WHO Hub for Global Health Emergencies Logistics' initiative, which is rapidly delivering over $1.3 million worth of medicines and medical supplies to treat approximately 400,000 people in Gaza. Robert Blanchard, head of emergency operations at the WHO Hub, emphasized that through these emergency charter flights, supported by Dubai Humanitarian and the Government of Dubai, WHO can deliver more medicines, reach more patients, and reduce costs.

Dubai Humanitarian's assistance has been instrumental in aiding Palestinian residents of Gaza, saving the health emergency operations there more than $4 million in logistics costs since the start of the conflict in October 2023, according to Blanchard. The UAE has been actively involved in aid deliveries and humanitarian assistance to Gaza since launching Operation Gallant Knight following Israel's war on the enclave in October 2023.

This operation has resulted in the establishment of a floating hospital, a field hospital, and two medical centers in Gaza, providing care and support to those in need. As of the latest announcement, the operation has been running for 1,000 days, with over Dh14.2 billion ($3.89 billion) of aid sent to Gaza during this period.