UAE Relief Efforts in Afghanistan: A Bridge for Humanity
Upon their arrival, the Emirati team immediately launched field assessment operations in coordination with local authorities, ensuring greater efficiency in search and rescue missions and expanding the scope of humanitarian response.
The United Arab Emirates places humanitarian and relief work at the core of its national and foreign policy. Over the years, it has built a strong reputation for extending solidarity and assistance to peoples affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or geography. In this context, a team from the UAE Joint Operations Command and the national search and rescue unit was dispatched to Afghanistan to assist victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the eastern regions of the country, claiming more than 1,400 lives, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
As soon as they landed, the team began conducting field evaluations jointly with local authorities, aimed at enhancing coordination, strengthening the efficiency of rescue missions, and providing logistical and relief support to the affected areas. Their objective is to save as many lives as possible and pull survivors from beneath the rubble.
The UAE’s relief mission also includes urgent humanitarian supplies delivered by the Emirates Red Crescent, consisting of food aid, essential medical supplies, and shelter tents to support the wounded and displaced families.
The initial earthquake, measuring magnitude 6, struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, causing more than 1,400 deaths and 3,100 injuries. A second quake, registering 5.2, followed on Tuesday, reigniting fear among thousands of already traumatized families. Taliban authorities reported that most casualties were concentrated in Kunar province, with additional losses recorded in Laghman and Nangarhar.
Since its founding, the UAE has tied its prosperity to humanitarian generosity, upholding the principle that true wealth lies in serving humanity. Guided by this vision, the UAE has consistently dispatched emergency relief in the wake of earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes in countries such as Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, and Haiti. It has also extended assistance to refugees and displaced persons in conflict zones such as Yemen, Syria, Palestine, and Afghanistan.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UAE provided large shipments of medical equipment and vaccines to dozens of nations to strengthen their health systems.
Beyond emergency relief, humanitarian engagement has become a permanent pillar of the UAE’s global policy, reflecting its commitment to placing humanity above all other considerations. This approach underscores its influential role in fostering international cooperation and solidarity.
The Emirates Red Crescent stands out as the leading operational arm of these efforts, carrying out humanitarian and development projects both domestically and abroad. These projects focus on education, healthcare, and relief operations in disaster-hit areas. Notable initiatives include the “100 Million Meals” campaign to feed impoverished communities and the “Reconstruction of Gaza” program.
Through such sustained initiatives, the UAE has consolidated its status as one of the world’s largest donors of humanitarian and development aid. These efforts have strengthened global values of solidarity and tolerance, affirming the UAE’s role as a bridge for humanity and as a key player in advancing diplomacy rooted in compassion, generosity, and cooperation.
