Today, Monday, an Emirati aid plane arrived in Kandahar, marking the eighth flight in the UAE's humanitarian air bridge to Afghanistan since the American withdrawal. The Emirati aircraft is carrying diverse medical and food aid to enhance the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Recently, the United Arab Emirates initiated an air bridge to provide assistance to the Afghan people, benefiting thousands of Afghan families, particularly women, children, and the elderly.
The UAE's air bridge to Afghanistan has transported dozens of tons of urgent medical and food supplies across the seven previous flights, which landed at Kabul International Airport. The UAE is among the first countries in the world to send urgent humanitarian aid to Kabul following recent developments in Afghanistan. The air bridge reflects the UAE's steadfast humanitarian approach in extending a helping hand to communities and groups in need, especially during crises.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, thanked the UAE, stating, "We thank the UAE for the assistance provided to the Afghan people." He added in a statement to "Sky News Arabia," "Emirati aid will be distributed to hospitals to care for the sick." Mujahid called on the international community to assist the Afghan people.
The Emirates Red Crescent has executed humanitarian programs, relief assistance, and development projects in Afghanistan over the past decades, amounting to over 320 million dirhams, benefiting more than 8 million people, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). This assistance included detailed developmental projects, seasonal programs, and direct aid valued at over 242 million dirhams, benefiting more than 5 million people, while relief aid exceeded 71 million dirhams, assisting over 3 million people, in addition to approximately 7 million dirhams for orphan sponsorship programs and support for families benefiting over 40,000 orphans.
Mohammed Atiq Al-Falahi, Secretary-General of the Emirates Red Crescent, stated that the Red Crescent's humanitarian and developmental programs in Afghanistan embody the global message the agency undertakes under the guidance and follow-up of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, representative of the ruler in the Al Dhafra region and head of the organization, to mitigate human suffering and uphold human dignity. He added that the Red Crescent's developmental initiatives in Afghanistan have received significant attention and support from the wise leadership, emphasizing that the UAE has stood by the Afghan people over the past decades, supporting their humanitarian conditions and vital development and reconstruction issues. Al-Falahi noted that the UAE's prompt response to the ongoing humanitarian situation in Afghanistan underscores its pivotal role in addressing the repercussions of emergencies and disasters regionally and internationally.
