Emirates launches humanitarian airlift to transport emergency aid to victims of Turkey-Syria earthquake

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Emirates is installing an airlift with the International Humanitarian City (IHC) to transport urgent relief supplies, medical items and equipment to support relief efforts on the ground and search and rescue in both countries. The first shipments will leave today on EK 121 and EK 117 consisting of UNHCR high thermal blankets and family tents, followed by relief cargo from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Program (WFP). ) of medical kits and shelter items. , coordinated by the IHC in Dubai.

In the coming days, more shipments of blankets, tents, shelter kits, lanterns, water distribution ramps and trauma and emergency health kits will be transported on Emirates.

Emirates SkyCargo plans to dedicate cargo space for around 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid items over the next two weeks on its daily flight operations to Istanbul. Critical emergency supplies carried on Emirates will then be delivered by local organizations to affected areas in southern Turkey and northern Syria, supporting response teams on the ground and bringing much-needed aid to hundreds of thousands of people. affected by earthquakes.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates, said: “We stand with the Turkish and Syrian people and are working with experts such as the International Humanitarian City to help deliver urgent aid to those affected and displaced by the earthquakes. as well as support complex recovery efforts on the ground. Emirates has extensive experience in supporting humanitarian relief efforts and, through its three daily flights to Istanbul, will offer regular and consistent widebody capacity for relief items and medical supplies. Emirates also supports the UAE's ongoing humanitarian efforts to support Turkey and Syria,

His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of the IHC Supreme Committee for Supervision: “IHC remains committed to providing people affected by earthquakes with the humanitarian support and resources they need. We are taking urgent action by facilitating the airlift of vital medical supplies, shelter items and other relief items from UNHCR, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Program (WFP) to address the pressing demand for aid. in the affected regions.

Emirates' cargo division has a long-standing partnership with IHC, allowing the airline to quickly and agilely lead numerous relief missions, deploying humanitarian supplies to communities around the world affected by natural disasters, medical emergencies, global outbreaks and other crises.

In 2020, the airline facilitated relief efforts in Lebanon following the explosions in the port of Beirut. In 2021, Emirates installed a humanitarian airlift between Dubai and India to transport urgent relief and medical items to help the country contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Last year, the airline offered cargo capacity to organizations working with IHC to transport critical equipment and supplies directly to five flood-ravaged cities in Pakistan.  

Over the years, Emirates has also supported humanitarian flights in partnership with the Airbus Foundation, and since 2013, Emirates A380 ferry flights have transported more than 120 tonnes of food and vital emergency equipment to those in need.