Watch: Largest Gaza aid ship sets sail from Dubai with 5,800 tonnes of humanitarian supplies

Dubai: A ship carrying 5,800 tonnes of humanitarian supplies for Gaza departed from Hamriyah Port in Dubai on Monday. This marked the largest vessel, called Mother of the Nation, deployed in the UAE’s Operation Gallant Knight 3, carrying food, clothing, shelter materials, other relief supplies, and ambulances.

Amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had launched the humanitarian operation on November 5, 2023. This initiative, coordinated by the Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent and other UAE humanitarian organisations, aims to provide critical aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defence announced that the sixth UAE aid ship departed from Hamriyah Port in Dubai, bound for the Egyptian city of Al Arish, on Monday. The ship is set to arrive in early February,

As part of this effort, Sheikh Mohammed had invited doctors registered with the UAE Ministry of Health and the Department of Health—Abu Dhabi, as well as volunteers from the Red Crescent and other humanitarian organisations, to join the operation. Key initiatives include the establishment of a field hospital in Gaza and a floating hospital in Arish, Egypt, equipped for emergency care and surgeries. Critical patients are also being transported to UAE hospitals for continued treatment.

Additionally, the UAE has launched water desalination projects in Rafah, Egypt, and the Birds of Goodness initiative to deliver aid to hard-to-reach areas.

Speaking to Gulf News, Rashid Al Mansoori, Secretary-General of the Emirates Red Crescent, described the sixth Emirati aid ship, the “Mother of the Nation”, as the largest vessel deployed in the operation. This contribution, a gift from the Mother of the Nation Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, aims to support the Palestinian people as Ramadan approaches.

The ship aligns with the operation’s largest phase, coinciding with a truce in Gaza.

Speaking to Gulf News, Ali Mohammad Al Rashidi, Director of Human Resources at Sharjah Charity International, emphasised the collective effort behind this mission. Sharjah Charity contributed 427 tonnes of relief packages, including food, clothing, and shelter materials.

Since the crisis began, the UAE has delivered over 55,000 tonnes of aid to Gaza. This operation represents the longest-running relief mission in UAE history.

Al Mansoori said: “The UAE spares no effort in meeting the urgent needs of our brothers in Gaza. This initiative is a reflection of our leadership’s sincerity and love for the Palestinian people.”

Operation Gallant Knight 3 has delivered aid through more than 500 airlifts and six sea shipments so far. Highlights include:

-Over 55,000 tonnes of aid, including 2,500 truckloads transported from Egypt to Gaza.

-53 missions using 190 aircraft delivered 3,700 tons of aid to inaccessible areas in northern Gaza.

-Six desalination stations and water transport vehicles serving diverse communities.

-Two field hospitals in Gaza and a floating hospital in Arish, providing specialized care for children, women, and the elderly.