Dubai establishes route for aid flights to Gaza Strip

The Dubai Government has implemented a new route specifically designed to deliver urgently required medical supplies to the Gaza Strip. This initiative, spearheaded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, will be utilized to transport aid from the World Health Organisation (WHO). On Tuesday, the inaugural flight departed from Dubai Humanitarian, the emirate's emergency response center, carrying 11 tonnes of essential medicines destined for Al Arish International Airport in Egypt.

Subsequent flights have followed suit, transporting a variety of supplies, including medicine, tents, and fortified biscuits, aimed at addressing the nutritional requirements of individuals in Gaza. According to Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, chairman of Dubai Humanitarian, this latest air bridge is an extension of the emirate's ongoing humanitarian efforts in Gaza, driven by the directives of the UAE and Dubai's leadership to support the people of Gaza.

Despite the numerous challenges faced by the region, Dubai Humanitarian, in collaboration with its partners, has successfully facilitated multiple air bridges and relief shipments this year, including to Afghanistan, Mozambique, Lebanon, and Uganda, all in support of international organizations' endeavors. The four flights conducted thus far are part of a larger operation through which Dubai Humanitarian will orchestrate the dispatch of approximately 150 tonnes of WHO medical and health supplies to Gaza over the coming weeks, with additional flights planned.

These supplies are assembled at the WHO Global Logistics Centre, hosted by Dubai Humanitarian. Robert Blanchard, head of emergency operations at the WHO Hub for Global Health Emergencies Logistics, emphasized that these shipments, facilitated through charter flights, are anticipated to provide essential medicines to treat around 400,000 people in Gaza.

These emergency charter flights, made possible by the generosity and operational assistance of Dubai Humanitarian and the Government of Dubai, are instrumental in enabling the WHO to deliver more medicines, reach more patients, and reduce associated costs. Blanchard highlighted that Dubai Humanitarian's aid has been instrumental in mitigating the financial burden on Gaza's health emergency operations, saving the enclave over $4 million in logistics costs since the onset of the conflict in October 2023.

Operation Gallant Knight, launched by the UAE in response to Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, has been a cornerstone of aid deliveries and humanitarian assistance to the enclave. This operation has seen the establishment of a floating hospital in February 2024, along with a field hospital and two medical centers in Gaza, all dedicated to providing care and support to those in need.

As of the latest announcement, the operation has surpassed 1,000 days of continuous support, with more than Dh14.2 billion ($3.89 billion) of aid disbursed during this period.