Page 80 - UAE Foreign Aid Report 2022

United Arab Emirates
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Foreign Aid Report 2022

Emergency Health

Disasters and emergencies inflict detrimental impacts as a crucial focal point of the UAE’s emergency health
on the health and wellbeing of millions globally every initiatives. With over 760,000 refugees primarily from
year. They can engender immediate health ramifications, Syria, along with significant groups from Iraq, Yemen,
as seen in the injuries from earthquakes, floods, and Sudan, and Somalia, Jordan received AED 73.3 million
similar hazards. Moreover, they can also trigger longer- (USD 20.0 million) from the UAE in 2022. This aid
term public health crises following the initial disaster. was primarily directed towards providing essential
Such situations can occur when health services are medicines, medical supplies, and treatment, as well as
devastated or depleted, when surging needs outstrip financing the monthly operational cost of the Emirati
the capacities of existing health systems, or when Jordanian Field Hospital and field hospitals in the
immediate health risks are inadequately managed. refugee camps.

In 2022, the UAE prioritized addressing these In response to the catastrophic earthquake that struck
challenges, disbursing AED 325.8 million (USD 88.7 Paktika and Khost provinces in Afghanistan on June 22,
million) towards projects related to the emergency 2022, causing extensive destruction and claiming over
health sector. This was the second-largest segment of a thousand lives, the UAE sprang into immediate action
the UAE’s humanitarian assistance in 2022, reaching and mobilized AED 55.1 million (USD 15.0 million) in
10 countries, including four of the world’s Least funds. Launching a substantial relief operation, the
Developed Countries (LDCs). Liberia and Jordan were UAE dispatched three aircrafts laden with a 1,000
the primary beneficiaries, receiving 23% and 22%, sqm mobile hospital. This field hospital, equipped with
respectively, of the UAE’s aid to the emergency health two state-of-the-art operating rooms and 75 beds,
sector. was designed to deliver crucial medical aid to the
earthquake victims.
Liberia, grappling with the severe health system impact This swift humanitarian response was part of the
of the COVID-19 pandemic, emerged as the leading UAE’s ongoing commitment to providing emergency
recipient of the UAE’s emergency health projects in aid during crises. The air bridge operation, facilitated
2022. The UAE allocated AED 73.5 million (USD 20.0 by the UAE, aimed to ensure a continuous flow of
million) to Liberia, as the pandemic disrupted the assistance in the aftermath of the disaster.
continuity of essential health services and created a
myriad of competing priorities in the country’s health In addition to the field hospital, the UAE also dispatched
sector. As a part of this support, the UAE is funding the 16 metric tonnes of essential equipment along with a
construction and equipping of a large-scale hospital in skilled medical team. Their mission was to operate the
Gbarpolu County, featuring 125 beds and spanning an hospital efficiently, providing urgent medical services
area of 80,000 square meters. to those affected by this devastating natural calamity.

The UAE has been particularly attentive to Jordan, a In Palestine and Ukraine, the UAE made substantial
country bearing the substantial challenge of hosting contributions of medical resources. Over 85 tons of
the second-highest number of refugees per capita in essential medicines, medical supplies, and medical
the world. Given this context, Jordan has emerged equipment were provided to Palestine, while Ukraine
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