WHO flies Dhs1m aid from Dubai to Iran to combat coronavirus

On Monday afternoon, the UAE aided a mission by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to fly 7.5-tonnes of aid to Iran which is combatting a severe outbreak of Covid-19 coronavirus in the country.

The shipment which was packed by Dubai’s International Humanitarian City included hundreds of thousands of gloves, surgical masks, laboratory diagnostic kits and other basic medical supplies to aid health workers and also prevent the spread of the virus among those infected with it.

Iran has reported the most number of cases of the virus within the region.

On Monday, Iran’s health ministry said that the total number of confirmed cases has climbed to 1,501 and the number of deaths now stand at 66.

Reports on Monday also indicated that among the dead is Mohammad Mir-Mohammadi, a member of the Expediency Council, that advises Iran’s supreme leader.

Read: Iran’s advisory council member dies of coronavirus

There are several cases reported in other countries within the Middle East, including Bahrain and Kuwait, of visitors who arrived from Iran infected with the virus.

On Friday, the UAE announced that it was coordinating with Iran to operate a number of flights to evacuate Iranian from the UAE.

Read: UAE bans citizens from travelling to Iran and Thailand

On February 22, the UAE reported that a 70-year old Iranian visitor and his 64-year-old wife who had arrived in the UAE was infected with coronavirus.

Read: UAE confirms new coronavirus cases, Saudi suspends travel to Iran

As a precautionary measure, the UAE suspended all flights to Iran beginning February 25.

Read: UAE halts all flights to Iran on coronavirus concerns

The special aid mission that was flown out on Monday afternoon from Dubai was undertaken by the UAE Air Force which deployed an aircraft from Dubai World Central airport to facilitate the transfer.

The UAE carried out the mission in collaboration with the WHO and the International Humanitarian City, an official told news agency WAM.

“Iran has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the Middle East. The medical supplies will help equip Iran to contain the virus,” said Dr Richard Brennan, acting regional emergency director at WHO’s regional office in the Eastern Mediterranean.