Amid broad international praise, UAE reaches out to help Afghans

The white humanitarian hand of the UAE quickly reached Afghanistan, from the very first days, to rescue and evacuate citizens in a safe way and provide all means of safety, comfort and humanitarian treatment.

Emirates Efforts

“As per the directives of Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Crown Prince of Abu Dabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and as part of the UAE’s global humanitarian initiatives, the country has begun hosting Afghan families of women and children.”

The United Arab Emirates has also taken all necessary measures to provide them with the necessary care and support in society on a temporary basis in order to provide them with the necessities of a decent life and achieve the noble goals of the United Arab Emirates in a tolerant and united society.

On August 20, the UAE agreed to host 5,000 Afghan nationals who were evacuated from Afghanistan en route to other countries.

Abou Dabi, in cooperation with Washington, has also established a center where passengers are subjected to health checks and security checks before traveling to the United States or other countries, under the coordination of the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management, in addition to providing all the various services, including health care and high-quality food to ensure their well-being during evacuations.

Evacuation of Afghans and foreigners

The initiative comes as the UAE facilitates the provision of support and the reception of dozens of flights carrying foreign nationals from Afghanistan, including a number of diplomats, international staff of various nationalities and workers in non-governmental organizations, to the country’s airports.

The UAE plays an important role in the evacuations. Since the beginning of August, 39,827 Afghans and nationals of friendly countries have been evacuated from Afghanistan using its aircraft and through its airports.

This initiative is part of the State’s humanitarian approach to the situation in Afghanistan and its global humanitarian mission in the international arena in general. It embodies the directives of Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane calling for humanitarian solidarity in times of crisis and hardship and his belief that extending a helping hand to groups and communities that need assistance in difficult circumstances is a genuine moral obligation to provide humanitarian support to these groups.

International acclaim

Because of its pivotal and humanitarian role, the United Arab Emirates has received wide international acclaim since the beginning of these serious and valuable efforts. Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Crown Prince of Abou Dabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, received a telephone call from U.S. President Joe Biden, in which Biden expressed his thanks and appreciation for the support and facilities provided by the United Arab Emirates in evacuating American diplomats and citizens from Afghanistan, in addition to the citizens of friendly countries and Afghans who hold visas from these countries.

The American president said: “We highly appreciate the UAE’s humanitarian efforts to facilitate the safe passage of US citizens, embassy staff and foreigners evacuated from Kabul to other countries,” he said, adding that this stance embodies the strong and lasting partnership between the UAE and the United States.

Australia thanked the UAE for its role in the evacuation of Australian nationals from Afghanistan during a telephone conversation between Crown Prince of Abou Dabi Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia.

The United Kingdom also thanked the UAE for its support in the evacuation of British and Afghan nationals from Afghanistan. The British Foreign Office published on its Twitter account that “Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab spoke with Sheikh Abdallah ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, and thanked him for the support provided by the UAE to send British military and personnel to Afghanistan, and to repatriate British citizens and Afghans who have assisted the UK’s efforts over the past 20 years.”

French Minister of Defense Florence Parly praised the UAE’s efforts in helping it evacuate its citizens from Afghanistan under the current circumstances.