The UAE is leading multi-lateral efforts to bolster humanitarian response to help victims of devastating floods in Pakistan.
Over the past week, the Emirates has led relief goods operations in the flood-hit country, with 16 humanitarian flights organised by the UAE so far.
In next week, nine additional flight rotations are planned to dispatch further relief items on behalf of International Humanitarian City partners, including the World Food Programme, the World Health and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
So far, at least 40 humanitarian flights have arrived in Pakistan carrying tonnes of urgently needed relief goods including food, tents and medical supplies to support the vulnerable flood-affected families, officials said.
UAE, Turkey, and China are leading humanitarian efforts with 31 flights.
In addition to 16 flights of relief goods from the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan has also received 11 from Turkey, four from China, three from Qatar, two from UNHCR and one each from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, France and UNICEF.
The aid flights are helping strengthen the ongoing response to the devastating floods in the country.
More than 6.4 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid in Pakistan after the catastrophic floods affected more than 33 million and killed at least 1,314 people including 458 children since mid-June.
Turkey - 11
China - 4
Qatar - 3
Uzbekistan - 1
Turkmenistan - 1
France - 1
UNHCR - 2
UNICEF - 1
UAE air bridge continues to provide relief to flood victims
The aid flights from UAE delivered much-needed food, medical supplies and tents to the flood-hit areas.
The 15th flight landed at the Islamabad airport on September 4 ensuring the continuation of relief operation under the humanitarian air bridge established between Pakistan and UAE.
“Pakistan is grateful to the government and people of UAE for showing solidarity and support in this hour of need,” Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the leaders and people of UAE for timely and valuable assistance for the people of Pakistan in times of crisis.
Emirates offers free cargo capacity for aid to Pakistan
UAE’s Emirates airline has announced free cargo capacity for aid to Pakistan via its passenger flights. “To support communities in Pakistan affected by floods, Emirates is offering cargo capacity free of charge for NGOs to transport essential relief goods through the International Humanitarian City,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, said in a tweet.
Turkey sends aid via planes and trains
Turkey has so far sent 11 cargo aircraft and two trains loaded with tonnes of relief goods including food, tents, blankets and medical aid for the affected people. “We are on the ground. We are on the road. We are on the rail. We are on the air. We stand with you Pakistan” said Dr Kerem Kinik, President of the Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay). The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) sent relief aid of about 10,000 tents, 50,000 food parcels, 50,000 hygiene materials and 10,000 parcels of baby food to the flood areas
Other aid flights and assistance
Three Qatar Emiri Air Force aircraft have also arrived in Pakistan with aid supplies for flood-affected people. The Central Asian states, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, have each sent one humanitarian flight loaded with food and medical supplies.
