Emirates And Dubai Humanitarian Establish Airbridge To Deliver Urgent Relief Aid To Sri Lanka

Emirates, in collaboration with Dubai Humanitarian, has launched an airbridge to Sri Lanka to deliver urgent relief supplies following Cyclone Ditwah. For the next two weeks, Emirates will provide over 100 tonnes of free cargo space on its daily flights to Sri Lanka. This initiative allows Dubai Humanitarian and partners to distribute emergency aid across affected regions via Colombo.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, expressed the airline's dedication to supporting Sri Lanka. "Emirates is deeply connected and committed to Sri Lanka," he stated. He emphasised that Emirates is using its resources to help communities impacted by the cyclone.

Emirates will allocate bellyhold cargo space for relief efforts on its daily flights to Sri Lanka. This ensures a steady supply of essential goods reaches those in need. H.H. Sheikh Ahmed highlighted the importance of working with Dubai Humanitarian, the world's largest humanitarian hub, to facilitate the movement of urgent supplies.

Dubai's Role in Global Aid

Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of Dubai Humanitarian, praised Emirates for activating a crucial airbridge in response to the floods in Sri Lanka. He noted that this cooperation highlights their enduring partnership and Dubai’s position as a global centre for humanitarian efforts.

Since their partnership began in 2020, Emirates and Dubai Humanitarian have collaborated on numerous relief missions. They have delivered hundreds of tonnes of aid to communities affected by natural disasters or crises worldwide. Their swift mobilisation is made possible through Emirates' extensive network.

In 2023, after earthquakes struck Türkiye and Syria, Emirates SkyCargo allocated space for hundreds of tonnes of relief items on flights to Istanbul. Similarly, during Pakistan's severe flooding, Emirates established an airbridge and provided cargo capacity on all passenger flights there.

This support included transporting vital equipment, food, and other emergency supplies directly to airports in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and Sialkot. The ongoing partnership between Emirates and Dubai Humanitarian continues to play a crucial role in global disaster response efforts.

With inputs from WAM