By Desmond Nleya
ABU DHABI: In cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Arab Emirates has carried out a new medical evacuation flight, transporting 119 patients and injured individuals, along with their family members, from the Gaza Strip. The flight departed from Ramon Airport in Israel via the Karam Abu Salem crossing.
Since the onset of the humanitarian crisis, the UAE has evacuated a total of 2,904 patients and their families to provide them with urgent medical care.
The latest evacuation was conducted under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as part of an initiative to provide medical treatment to 1,000 wounded Palestinian children and 1,000 cancer patients across hospitals in the UAE. These efforts reflect the nation’s steadfast commitment to alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza and ensuring access to essential healthcare during this critical time.
Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organisations and Vice Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, reaffirmed the country’s determination to deliver a swift humanitarian response. He stressed that the medical evacuations highlight the UAE’s deep-rooted solidarity with the Palestinian people and its role in supporting those affected by crises and conflicts, while contributing to international efforts aimed at easing suffering and promoting early recovery and stability.
Al Shamsi noted the UAE’s close coordination with international organisations, particularly the WHO, to facilitate the immediate transfer of critical cases to hospitals nationwide. He added that patients and their families accommodated at Emirates Humanitarian City (EHC) receive not only comprehensive healthcare but also educational and cultural support, ensuring a holistic response to their needs.
In addition, the UAE continues to extend medical aid through its hospital ship off the coast of El Arish, Egypt, and its field hospital in southern Gaza, providing vital services, medicines, and supplies to those most in need.
As part of its urgent humanitarian response plan, the UAE remains at the forefront of international efforts—working alongside the United Nations and global partners—to mitigate the devastating consequences of the crisis and to stand firmly with the residents of Gaza.
