UAE urgently evacuates 252 people from Gaza to Abu Dhabi

The UAE, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), has evacuated 97 critically wounded individuals, including cancer patients requiring specialised treatment, along with 155 family members, from the Gaza Strip.

The evacuees were flown from Ramon Airport in Israel to Abu Dhabi, with the transit facilitated through the Karam Abu Salam crossing.

الإمارات تنفذ إجلاء طبياً عاجلاً لــ 252 مصاباً برفقة عائلاتهم من غزةhttps://t.co/IpmAY2jPyK

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) September 11, 2024

UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, highlighted that this evacuation flight is the second of its kind from Ramon Airport, reiterating the UAE’s dedication to providing advanced medical care to injured Palestinians. “This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to support Palestinians during these dire conditions,” said Al Hashimy. She assured continued collaboration with international partners and the United Nations to address the humanitarian crisis.

Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed appreciation for the UAE’s efforts. “We thank the UAE for facilitating this crucial evacuation,” he stated. “We hope this and similar initiatives will pave the way for more evacuations and continue to emphasise the need for a ceasefire.”

To date, the UAE has evacuated 1,655 patients and their families in previous missions, with the latest flight bringing the total number of evacuees to over 1,917. 

Additionally, the UAE has delivered over 40,000 tonnes of aid, including food, medical supplies, and relief materials, through ships, trucks, flights, and airdrops as part of the “Bird of Goodness” campaign. This effort has included more than 3,450 tonnes of aid delivered to Northern Gaza via airdrops.