UAE sends 30 tonnes of aid to war-hit Ukraine

UAE sends 30 tonnes of aid to war-hit Ukraine.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it flew 30 tonnes of aid and medical supplies to Poland for transportation to war-torn Ukraine Monday, to help relieve the “deteriorating humanitarian situation” after Russia’s invasion.

The aircraft landed in Lublin, Poland, and the medical and relief aid were handed over to the Ukrainian authorities in Poland to be transported to Ukraine.

This came in response to the international humanitarian appeal to support displaced Ukrainians and refugees in neighboring countries. There are more than 1.2 million refugees so far.

More than 1.5 million people have fled across Ukraine’s borders in over a week of attacks from air, land and sea, according to the UN.

The UAE’s ambassador to Ukraine, Salem A. Al-Kaabi, noted that the aid was “part of the UAE’s steadfast commitment to essential humanitarian needs in conflicts… and to provide whatever assistance we can in what is a deteriorating humanitarian situation,” a foreign ministry statement said.

The UAE last month abstained from a UN Security Council draft resolution condemning Russia’s invasion, but then joined a vote to deplore the attack in the UN General Assembly.

The wealthy Gulf state hosts US troops and has been a strategic partner to Washington for decades, but its economic and political ties with Russia are growing.

The plane-load of aid landed in Poland for onward transportation to Ukraine. The UAE has also contributed 18.36 dirhams ($5 million) to UN appeals for the refugees, the statement said.