Emirates has launched a humanitarian airbridge between Dubai and India to transport urgent medical and relief aid, to support India in its fight against to curb the alarming rise of the second wave of coronavirus cases in the country.
Emirates will offer cargo capacity free of charge on an “as available” basis on all of its flights to nine Indian cities, to support international NGOs to deliver relief supplies, wherever needed.
The airlines has already been transporting critical medical essentials to India on scheduled and charter cargo flights.
“India and Emirates are deeply connected, since our first flights to India in 1985. We stand with the Indian people and will do all we can to help India get back on its feet. Emirates has a lot of experience in humanitarian relief efforts, and with 95 weekly flights to 9 destinations in India, we will be offering regular and reliable wide body capacity for relief materials. The International Humanitarian City in Dubai is the largest crisis relief hub in the world and we will work closely with them to facilitate the movement of urgent medical supplies.”
~Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive
The first shipment sent as part of the Emirates India humanitarian airbridge is a consignment of over 12 tonnes of multi-purpose tents from the World Health Organization (WHO), destined for Delhi, and coordinated by the IHC in Dubai.
Giuseppe Saba, CEO of International Humanitarian City, said: “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid built the International Humanitarian City (IHC), so Dubai, in coordination with humanitarian agencies, would be able to assist communities and families, most in need – around the world. Last year over 1,292 shipments were dispatched from the IHC in Dubai, setting the standard for humanitarian response globally. We appreciate the great efforts by IHC’s partner Emirates SkyCargo establishing this humanitarian airbridge between Dubai and India in this time of need”.
This latest airbridge initiative takes Emirates’ support for India and for the NGO community a notch higher.
