UAE airlifts 30 tonnes of food aid to Ethiopia

The UAE has sent 30 tonnes of food items to support more than 7,000 people in Ethiopia's Mekele, as part of humanitarian efforts to airlift supplies to the Tigray people.

The aid is part of the UAE's efforts to "support the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region, and to meet the needs of the population's food shortages".

Mohamed Salem Al Rashidi, UAE Ambassador to Ethiopia, added that it "aligns with the UAE's humanitarian approach to provide emergency relief to countries in need".

Last year, the UAE, in cooperation with the World Food Programme, sent eight planes carrying 337 tonnes of relief and food items to Mekele to benefit more than 80,000 people. The assistance included 200 tonnes of vegetable oil. The region also received 18.5 tonnes of medical supplies, as part of global efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.