UAE sends food aid to Ethiopia's Tigray Region

The UAE has dispatched an aircraft carrying 200 tonnes of food supplies to the city of Mek'ele in Ethiopia's Tigray region.

The humanitarian initiative, in cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP), will benefit thousands of civilians who are struggling due to conflict conditions and the spread of COVID-19.

An Emirati team will monitor the distribution of the food items.

They are in close contact with international organisations to determine the needs, especially for the most vulnerable groups, such as women, children and the elderly.

Mohamed Salem Al-Rashidi, Ambassador of the UAE to Ethiopia, said that the UAE is keen on supporting the humanitarian effort in the Tigray region in light of the sparse food supplies.

"We appreciate this timely support from the UAE," said Michael Dunford, WFP’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa and Corporate Response Director for Tigray.

"Food supplies are currently running low in the region and WFP plans to deliver the vegetable oil from UAE along with other food, fuel and humanitarian supplies to Tigray by road as soon as possible."

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed the UAE's full solidarity with the Ethiopian people and renewed its call for a commitment to de-escalation and returning to dialogue for peace, stability and national unity.

طائرة إغاثة إماراتية إلى إقليم تيغراي الإثيوبي.https://t.co/6RryGGwN6K

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) August 18, 2021