LONDON – Emirates becomes the latest airline to open a humanitarian airbridge for emergency aid transportation to the victims of the disaster.
Following the devastating and tragic earthquake which hit Turkey and Syria hard and left thousands dead, major carriers and countries have offered help, and the aviation world has seen lots of different airlines transport emergency aid.
Airbridge from the UAE
In the wake of the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake, Emirates has decided to open a humanitarian airbridge, transporting emergency aid to the victims, in coordination with International Humanitarian City (IHC).
Emirates flights from Dubai to Istanbul are planned to carry around 100 tonnes of urgent relief items, which will eventually make their way to the stricken cities in Turkey and Syria.
The first shipments of urgent relief items were transported today (10 February) aboard EK121 and EK117, with the kits consisting of high thermal blankets and family tents from UNHCR, followed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Food Programme (WFP) relief cargo of medical kits and shelter items, coordinated by the IHC in Dubai.
In the coming days, more shipments of tents, blankets, shelter kits, and trauma kits, along with basic necessities, will be transported by Emirates.
Alongside the main ship Emirates, Emirates SkyCargo is to dedicate cargo space for around 100 tonnes of humanitarian relief goods over the course of the next two weeks across its daily flight operations to Istanbul onboard their Boeing 777 freighters.
Executive Comments…
With the help provided by the Emirates, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive, said:
“We stand with the Turkish and Syrian people and are working with experts like the International Humanitarian City to help provide urgent relief to those affected and displaced by the earthquakes, as well as support the complex recovery efforts on the ground.”
“Emirates has extensive experience in supporting humanitarian relief efforts, and through its three daily flights to Istanbul, will offer regular and consistent widebody capacity for relief items and medical supplies.”
“Emirates also supports the UAE’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to support Turkey and Syria, and Dubai’s unique position as the world’s largest international aid logistics hub means that we can efficiently reach disaster-stricken areas and the most vulnerable people as quickly as possible.”
His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Supervision of IHC, also commented, saying:
“The IHC remains committed to providing the people affected by the earthquakes with the humanitarian support and resources they need.”
“We are taking urgent action by facilitating airlifts of vital medical supplies, shelter items, and other relief goods from the UNHCR, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Food Programme (WFP) to address the pressing demand for aid in the affected regions.“
Long-standing relations with the IHC
Emirates’ freight division, Emirates SkyCargo, will, as mentioned, offer 100 tonnes of cargo space on the flights to Istanbul, and the division already has a long-standing relationship with the International Humanitarian City (IHC).
Previously, in 2020, the airline facilitated emergency relief efforts after the Port of Beirut explosion in Lebanon.
In 2021, they set up a humanitarian airbridge between Dubai and India to provide urgent medical and relief items to support in containing the Covid-19 pandemic.
