UAE sends medical aid to Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent seven metric tons of medical supplies to the Philippines to support the country’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19).

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the much-needed medical supplies arrived in Manila on Wednesday.

The aid will assist approximately 7,000 medical professionals, according to the Gulf News.

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana said “this medical assistance in the time of COVID-19 is only the latest of numerous instances in which the UAE has come to the aid of the Filipino people.”

Last week, Quintana said representatives from the UAE’s Emirates Red Crescent distributed food boxes to Filipino residents affected by COVID-19 and other vulnerable groups who were unable to fill their food supply due to restrictions.

“The Philippines has witnessed, time and again, that the UAE is a genuine friend at crucial times and therefore our leaders and the Filipino people will always remember UAE’s gesture of kindness, generosity and humanity, especially at this time when all countries have their challenges to overcome,” the envoy said.

There are an estimated 650,000 Filipinos in the UAE, according to the DFA.