UAE and Vatican send humanitarian aid to Amazon in fight against COVID-19

The UAE, in collaboration with the Vatican Department of Education, has sent a plane containing 15 metric tonnes of medical and food aid to the Amazon.

The first batch of the 40 metric tonnes of aid will benefit the Peruvian city of Iquitos, a city of 400,000 located on one of the Amazon River's streams, in their fight against COVID-19 and further strengthen their health sector.

It is a result of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together signed in Abu Dhabi by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb and Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church.

"The dispatch of this aid plane today to Peru reflects the UAE’s continued efforts to help a large number of countries to curb the spread of this virus. The UAE leadership believes that international solidarity and the unification of efforts are an urgent necessity in the face of the most dangerous pandemic facing humanity," said Jassem Saif Al Shamsi, Chargé d'Affaires at the UAE Embassy in Lima.

"The UAE stands with the people of Peru today by contributing to the provision of supplies and food aid, reflecting strong ties between both countries that have historically enjoyed constructive cooperation and consensus at all levels."

So far, the UAE has sent more than 995 metric tonnes of aid to more than 69 countries.