UAE donation to boost PPE production in UK
Soon after the virus emerged the UAE retooled factories to produce PPE; it has so far tested 2 million people, and intends to test nearly all 9 million citizens and residents
The United Arab Emirates has donated 6.6 tonnes of material to the United Kingdom that will enable the country to produce millions of items of personal protective equipment, PPE.
The shipment arrived at Heathrow Airport on a special chartered flight on Friday morning and was made up of 6.6 tonnes of melt blown fabric, an essential component of surgical face masks.
There is currently a global shortage of the material and its export is restricted from the UAE.
This single consignment will enable the UK to manufacture millions of face masks.
The UAE Ambassador to the UK, Mansoor Abulhoul, said: “We are delighted to be able to assist Britain, one of our closest friends and allies. The UAE is committed to helping fight COVID-19 wherever it can and has donated aid to 63 countries around the world.”
The UAE was able to supply the material because of its internationally-recognised success in curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Soon after the virus emerged the UAE retooled factories to produce PPE.
It also introduced one of the world’s most comprehensive testing and tracking regimes — the UAE has so far tested 2 million people, and intends to test nearly all 9 million citizens and residents.
Careful supply chain management also meant the UAE did not exhaust domestic supplies of melt blown fabric, which is used in the oil industry and is manufactured in the UAE.
The UAE is committed to helping the world fight COVID-19. It has sent more than 716 tonnes of medical aid to 63 countries. More than 716,000 medical professionals have been assisted around the world.
In April, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, donated 60 tonnes of urgent medical aid to the UK.
The NHS has been given rent-free use of Excel London, the conference centre owned by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre which is currently NHS Nightingale.
The United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday that it had donated $10 million worth of PCR COVID-19 testing kits sufficient for 500,000 people to the World Health Organisation. The donation of the testing kits supports global efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in light of the scarcity of testing supplies in several countries.
To date, the UAE has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing over 714 tonnes of medical aid to 63 countries in need.
Separately, the “UAE Volunteers” national campaign was very popular with UAE citizens and residents alike, who competed to fulfil the call of duty by volunteering in 125 opportunities; 98 field and 27 virtual opportunities remotely, as the number of volunteers enrolled in the campaign within a month of its launch reached more than 18,740 volunteers belonging to more than 132 nationalities residing in the UAE.
The number of resident volunteers supporting the national efforts made by our soldiers in the first line of defence to confront the spread of “COVID-19” reached more than 13,170 volunteers residing in the UAE, in addition to 5,555 volunteers from citizens.
According to the data of the National Volunteer Campaign, the Emirati volunteers topped the list with 30 per cent of the attending and most participating volunteers in the “UAE Volunteers” campaign with 5,555 volunteers, followed by resident volunteers of Indian nationality with a total of 2,010 volunteers, the Egyptian community with 1,837 volunteers, and those with Syrian nationality made up 1,319 volunteers. The Pakistani nationality equalled 977 volunteers, there were 753 Jordanian volunteers, 634 Sudanese volunteers, 564 Yemeni volunteers, 535 Palestinian volunteers and 496 volunteers from the Philippines. The number of volunteers from the rest of residing nationals in the UAE differ in numbers.
Emirati Hamad Nasser Al-alawi expressed his happiness at joining the “UAE Volunteers” initiative, saying, “I am a volunteer in more than one line, as I sensed that I must fulfil the call of the nation. Volunteering is a humanitarian action that serves our people and our precious society, and fieldwork reflects the reality we live in amidst these challenges. This experience has changed many of my concepts such as the importance of health and education in our lives.”