Image courtesy of Dubai Media Office
It has been described as one of the worst natural disasters to strike the country in recent decades, with flash floods in Jordan this weekend claiming 12 lives and causing hundreds to flee their homes. The tragedy comes just two weeks after flash floods swept away a school bus near the Dead Sea, killing 21 people, many of whom were children. In the wake of the devastation, with floodwaters reaching up to 4 meters in the ancient city of Petra, the UAE has this week stepped up to help those affected.
On the orders of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, an emergency airlift departed Dubai for Jordan on Sunday evening, carrying 58 tons of much-needed emergency supplies. The Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai sent a 747 jumbo jet and a C130 Hercules transport carrier on the mission, which ferried health, nutrition, and sanitation supplies, as well as temporary shelters, to those in need.
Following the floods that have caused so much devastation in our beloved Jordan, @HHShkMohd ordered an emergency airlift of humanitarian aid. pic.twitter.com/WrltlfO9RJ
— HRH Princess Haya (@hrhprincesshaya) November 12, 2018
The operation was coordinated by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed and chairperson of International Humanitarian City, who shared images of the mission on her social media feed. “HRH Prince Ali Bin Hussein coordinated efforts when the planes landed in Jordan early this morning and the aid will soon be on its way to those families and people most in need,” the royal, who is part of the Jordanian royal family, revealed to her 430,000 Instagram followers as she documented the relief efforts. “I will continue to work with the authorities in Jordan and the National Crisis Centre to monitor the situation and provide further assistance as required.”
HRH earlier shared her sympathy for those affected by the flash floods last month, calling the devastation a “sad and heartbreaking day of loss of life”. “Condolences for the families of the children and for the beloved people of Jordan,” the royal added.
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