By Margarita Manousou
margarita.manousou1@gmail.com

• In cooperation with the International Humanitarian City of Dubai (IHC), flights are planned to transport around 100 tonnes of emergency items such as blankets, tents and medical supplies

• The emergency aid from Dubai to Istanbul will arrive via the flights of Emirates to earthquake-affected areas in southern Turkey and affected areas in Syria

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, Emirates is setting up a humanitarian airlift and, in partnership with International Humanitarian City (IHC), is transporting supplies, medical supplies and equipment to help search and rescue those affected. The first shipments are already underway and include blankets and tents from UNHCR, as well as medical equipment and essentials from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), which is in coordination with the Dubai International Humanitarian City.

Within the next few days, Emirates will begin airlifting blankets, tents, first aid supplies, flashlights, water distribution ramps and wound care equipment.

Over the next two weeks, Emirates SkyCargo will provide cargo space for around 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid items on all its daily flights to Istanbul. Emirates will then deliver the essentials carried by Emirates to local organisations in the affected areas in southern Turkey and northern Syria, demonstrating its practical support for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the earthquake.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates, said: “We are actively standing by the people of Turkey and Syria and we are in contact with specialized agencies, such as the International Humanitarian City, in order to contribute substantially to the provision of essentials to those affected by the earthquakes. Emirates, a long-standing participant in humanitarian aid operations, has the necessary space on its aircraft to transport essentials and medical supplies through its three daily flights to Istanbul, making an active contribution to the UAE’s support for Turkey and Syria.”

Emirates’ cargo division is in constant communication with the International Humanitarian City to deliver humanitarian aid quickly and flexibly to cities affected by natural disasters and other emergencies around the world.

It is worth noting that, in 2020, the airline contributed to the relief effort in Lebanon following the Beirut port explosions. Meanwhile, in 2021, Emirates established a humanitarian airlift between Dubai and India to carry medical supplies and essentials and support the country in containing the spread of COVID-19. In 2022, the airline allocated capacity on its aircraft to transport equipment and supplies from organisations working with the International Humanitarian City to five flood-affected cities in Pakistan.

In addition, Emirates has supported the transport of humanitarian aid in partnership with the Airbus Foundation and, since 2013, Emirates A380 flights have carried more than 120 tonnes of food and emergency equipment to people in need.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT EMIRATES

Emirates’ presence in the Greek market began in 1996. Over the past 25 years, Emirates has provided its unique services to more than 4.5 million passengers in the Greek market. The first airline to connect Athens directly to Dubai, Emirates, since March 2017, still offers the only direct, daily flight connecting Greece to the USA 365 days a year. Passengers flying with Emirates can be entertained with movies and programmes on more than 5,000 channels of ice, the airline’s award-winning entertainment system. They’ll also enjoy the excellent hospitality and personalised service offered by Emirates’ international, multicultural crew. Having started operations with just two aircraft in 1985, Emirates is now the largest international airline.