Day: June 1, 2021

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered an aid flight to transport much needed cholera kits from the World Health Organisation’s logistics hub in Dubai to Bangladesh to assist the country in combating an escalating cholera outbreak.

Under His Highness’s directives, the International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai chartered an Emirates Sky Cargo aircraft to deliver 50.7 metric tonnes of cholera kits to Bangladesh. The aircraft carrying the cholera kits provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) from its IHC warehouses left Dubai International Airport today for Dhaka.

Giuseppe Saba, IHC CEO said: “This urgent aid flight to Bangladesh amidst the COVID-19 pandemic situation around the world reflects the generosity of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and confirms Dubai’s commitment to taking international humanitarian action to help communities most in need. We are very proud of the extraordinary efforts of the humanitarian community based in Dubai to assist those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and other emergencies.”

“We should not overlook infectious diseases such as cholera at this time when essential health services are overwhelmed by COVID-19. Millions of people in Bangladesh continue to be at risk of this endemic disease, and our mitigation efforts to control cholera outbreaks should continue,” said Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative.

Robert Blanchard from the WHO Logistics team in Dubai said: “In response to ongoing health needs in Bangladesh, the World Health Organisation is immediately deploying 50.7 metric tonnes of much needed cholera kits from its logistics hub located within the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, UAE. The cholera supplies WHO is sending today to Bangladesh valued at US$131,000 will reach 20,000 patients.”

He added: “Responding to health emergencies within a health emergency, the Government of the UAE, IHC, and Emirates SkyCargo have once again answered the call to support the World Health Organisation’s global medical supply operations. It is worth noting that children under five have the highest incidence of cholera which represents nearly half of the mortality, where the fatality rate among children 1 to five years old is estimated to be more than 10 times that of adults. The rapid deployment of these life-saving medicines and medical supplies is vital to WHO’s ongoing health emergency response efforts, particularly as we simultaneously respond to the tremendous demands associated with a global pandemic.”

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

Luxembourg will gift its Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion to the UAE, illustrating its commitment to the meaningful, lasting legacy of the next World Expo and reflecting the strong, growing relationship between the two countries.

The announcement was made as Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, welcomed Franz Fayot, Luxembourg’s Minister of Economy and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, during a visit to the UAE.

Al Hashemy said: “There has never been a greater need for people, communities, businesses and nations to come together to share their ideas for a better future, and we are extremely grateful to the government of Luxembourg for gifting its stunning pavilion to the UAE.

“Our actions today will impact the environment we leave for our children tomorrow, and this generous act reflects our collective responsibility to leave a lasting positive impact. Luxembourg’s innovative, sustainable vision will enthral millions of visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai, and inspire generations to come as a permanent part of Expo’s future city of District 2020.”

As part of an economic delegation aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, the ministers also discussed their shared vision for innovation, sustainable development, and space exploration and mining.

Fayot’s trip marks the first ministerial visit to the Luxembourg Pavilion, which is set for completion by mid-June. Under the theme ‘Resourceful Luxembourg’, the pavilion is based on the idea of the Möbius ribbon – an infinite form symbolising the openness and dynamism of the country, and reflecting its commitment to the circular economy.

Fayot said: “Expo 2020 will be a unique platform for Luxembourg to collaborate with top innovating countries worldwide, as well as create and strengthen existing partnerships in the region and beyond. We are pleased to be part of Expo’s legacy by contributing our pavilion as a permanent building at the site – one that will serve as a beacon of hope for all those who visit, during the six months of Expo and long into the future.”

The three-storey Luxembourg Pavilion will serve as a laboratory for rethinking ever-pressing questions around natural resources, featuring a green atrium that repurposes water from its air-conditioning system to water the plants and vegetation throughout the pavilion. Visitors will be able to descend from the top floor to the bottom via a giant slide, a nod to the country’s annual fair.

Approximately 80 per cent of Expo’s built environment will live on in District 2020, a model global community for the future that will use state-of-the-art innovation, science and sustainability to create a cleaner, safer, healthier environment to live and work.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation