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HH Sheikh Mohammed Orders Emergency Aid to Help People Fleeing Ukraine

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Photo: WAM

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, issued an order for two planes carrying emergency aid to support Ukrainians fleeing conflict. Enabled by the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, the relief flights have departed from Dubai and Sharjah.

The first flight was provided by Emirates Airline with its Boeing 777-ER Cargo plane that departed from Dubai to land in Warsaw, Poland. In coordination with the UN and other charity organizations, the shipment is expected to aid 50,000 people. The second flight was operated by Aramex airline in arrangement with the World Health Organization and UN refugee agency and departed from Sharjah to Liege, Belgium, with aid to support 35,000 people.

These recent relief efforts are an addition to a previously sent emergency aid flight dispatched by the UAE on March 7. The UAE has also previously called for peace amid the conflict through diplomatic means.

“UNHCR is proud of its strategic partnership with IHC in Dubai and we appreciate this important contribution which represents the generosity of the government of the UAE and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid,” stated Nadia Jbour, head of the UNHCR office in the UAE.

The UAE also announced this month that it would provide US $5 million in relief aid to affected civilians. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stressed the importance of diplomatic solutions to the Ukrainian crisis during his visit to Moscow on Thursday and in conversation with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The two discussed the current ongoing issues of global food and energy crises by the effect of the conflict.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to affirm the confidence that the UAE places in the parties’ ability to seek a political solution and to build on the existing talks between the parties,” said Sheikh Abdullah. He added, “The UAE is fully prepared to support all efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict. We also affirm our full readiness to engage with all parties to reach a ceasefire agreement.”

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also come to the aid of Ukrainians. A decision under the direction of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Thursday was made to extend visas for Ukrainians in the Kingdom. Whether the Ukrainians are there as tourists or for business, they will be given an extension for humanitarian reasons. The extension will automatically be added without the need for Ukrainians to visit the passport departments.

Read Next: What Is Happening in Ukraine, and How to Help

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