Dubai: Following the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s initiative to start an airbridge to help refugees in the Levant area, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, tweeted his support.

“UAE President Shaikh Khalifa orders start of an airbridge sending blankets, clothes, food to aid camps survive the harsh winter #Storm_Huda” he tweeted yesterday.

“We follow Shaikh Khalifa’s directions with humanitarian campaign to alleviate winter suffering for refugees in the Levant. #Storm_Huda”.”

The airbridge will facilitate the delivery of relief materials, including blankets, winter clothes and food supplies, to hundreds of thousands of refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, in addition to those affected in Gaza and other Palestine.

“I ask all global and humanitarian organisations, governments to stand by the refugees facing the storm in tents and little food. #Storm_Huda” Shaikh Mohammad tweeted.

Snowstorm Huda is expected to hit the entire Levant and is supposed to bring down the temperatures to below freezing. Heavy snow, heavy rain and hail are also expected.

“I invite all in the Arab and international media to focus on this tragedy and by doing so help the aiding of these refugees #Storm_Huda” Shaikh Mohammad added.

Specialised institutions in the Levant countries affected have put in place emergency plans to deal with the storm. Wind speeds are expected to hit 110 km/h, with heavy snow fall in the mountains, resulting in a severe wave of piercing cold across the affected region, with temperatures dropping to -4 degrees Celsius.