UAE evacuates 215 Arab nationals from Wuhan

By Eudore R. Chand

Emirates Humanitarian City was created in 48 hours

ABU DHABI 5 March 2020: The United Arab Emirates has coordinated the evacuation of 215 Arab nationals from coronavirus epicentre Wuhan city in China.

The evacuees were received at the newly established Emirates Humanitarian City in the UAE, and will undergo medical testing and monitoring to ensure their health and safety.

The move follows the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to establish a healthcare facility that will provide individuals hailing form neighbouring Arab countries with the necessary monitoring and preventative medical care following their evacuation from the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak – China’s Wuhan City, said Wam.

A special aircraft carrying 215 individuals from Wuhan was equipped with HEPA cabin air filtrations systems, medical supplies and equipment necessary to carry out the evacuation procedure, along with medical response teams and cabin crew trained to carry out the evacuation.

Individuals will undergo a 14-day quarantine period during which they will undertake the necessary medical and laboratory tests, and be monitored to ensure their health and safety.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the UAE Embassy in China have coordinated with the embassies of the countries concerned to organise the evacuation process as part of the UAE’s continuous efforts to enhance cooperation with the Chinese government to contain the spread of the virus.

Emirates Humanitarian City set up in 48 hours

The 215 individuals from neighbouring and friendly countries of the UAE evacuated from China have been welcomed at Emirates Humanitarian City.

The centre was established within 48 hours of the decision issued by the UAE leadership, highlighting the country’s humanitarian aid and medical care capabilities during times of crises.

The Emirates Humanitarian City has been set up as per the highest of standards to facilitate high-quality care for individuals admitted, ensuring their privacy and dignity are maintained throughout their stay. Entertainment facilities – both indoor and outdoor – are provided for evacuees. Medicines, food and produce, and other essential items will also be provided.

Public and private sector entities in the UAE have joined forces to ensure that this ambitious project is completed within a record period of time, embodying the UAE’s steadfast approach to assisting those in need.

Mattar Al Nuaimi, Medical Response Team Leader at the Department of Health, said all necessary medical equipment and supplies have been provided and installed at the city.

Also, he added, a special preventative health centre was established to receive the individuals who will be placed under a 14-day quarantine, the average incubation period of the Covid-19 virus.

Al Nuami explained that individuals were first escorted off the plane upon their arrival in the UAE, with initial medical and laboratory tests being carried out. Individuals will then be transferred to the preventative care centre at the Emirates Humanitarian City for two weeks.

On-site medical teams will conduct all necessary tests and health care procedures to ensure the overall well-being of the individuals, Al Nuami affirmed.

Dr. Saif Jumaa Al Dhaheri, Director of Safety and Prevention at the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, NCEMA, said that the Emirates Humanitarian City was fit out with all necessary equipment and furnishings to ensure that individuals are provided with a comfortable environment, while receiving the best medical care possible.

Dr. Al Dhaheri said that the humanitarian city complex can accommodate hundreds of families, ensuring their safety, privacy and security.

Arab ambassadors praise UAE for evacuating their citizens from Wuhan

Several Arab ambassadors praised the UAE’s humanitarian initiative to evacuate citizens of friendly countries from the Chinese city of Wuhan, and host them in a humanitarian city in the country, to ensure their safety and recovery and provide them treatment.

The ambassadors added that this humanitarian gesture is not strange for the UAE’s leadership, government and people, who always lead in providing humanitarian assistance everywhere.

Sharif Badawi, Ambassador of Egypt to the UAE, said, “The UAE’s prompt response to help evacuate Egyptian citizens from Wuhan and bring them back is due to the strong relations between our two countries and our continued cooperation and coordination.”

He then thanked the UAE and its leadership for its humanitarian gesture and support for Arab countries and peoples, especially the Egyptian people.

Fahad Saeed Al Menhali, Ambassador of Yemen to the UAE, thanked the UAE and its leadership for the humanitarian initiative, stressing that the Yemeni people will remember its supportive stance to stand by them during good and bad times.

Mohammed Amin Abdulla Al-Kareb, Ambassador of Sudan to the UAE, praised the rapid response of the UAE’s government to the request of the Sudanese government to evacuate Sudanese students studying in China.

He also expressed the appreciation of the government of Sudan and the families of the students, who thanked the UAE’s leadership for its humanitarian actions while expressing his gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, UAE Ambassador to Sudan, and the staff of the UAE Embassy in Khartoum, who fully coordinated with the Sudanese government during the evacuation process.

Zaid Ezzeddine Mohammed Nouri, Ambassador of Iraq to the UAE, said that humanitarian initiatives are not strange to the UAE, which is always responding to urgent humanitarian appeals, especially those related to Arab affairs and solidarity.

He also praised the UAE’s efforts to help Iraqis who are in China and suffering from difficult conditions and thanked the UAE’s leadership, government and people for their humanitarian stances and their keenness to cooperate with Iraq while affirming that the UAE leads in supporting Iraq after 2003.

Mohammed Al Haiba, Ambassador of Mauritania to the UAE, praised the UAE’s humanitarian stance and its ongoing support for other Arab countries, stressing that its initiative in China is a major humanitarian gesture that this is not alien to the country, which is always the first to lead charitable and humanitarian work.

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