Coronavirus: United Arab Emirates steps up humanitarian aid worldwide

Text by: Nicolas Keraudren

Since the start of the coronavirus epidemic, the United Arab Emirates has increased medical aid for foreign countries. For Abu Dhabi, it is first of all a question of "strengthening global efforts to fight the spread of the virus". Because the country has also been one of the main humanitarian donors in the world for several decades. But these deliveries at the time of the Covid-19 also have a highly strategic interest.

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From our regional correspondent,

The United Arab Emirates today announced the shipment of 27 tonnes of medical supplies by air to Somalia. A total of 7 tonnes are supplied directly by the Emirates to this country in the Horn of Africa. The remaining medical aid comes from the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the words of the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Somalia, Ahmed Othman Al Hammadi, reported by the official news agency WAM, " the United Arab Emirates is determined to lend its support to strengthen global efforts to reduce the spread of COVID -19 ".

The increase in humanitarian aid to third countries

Since the start of the health crisis, Abu Dhabi has in fact multiplied humanitarian gestures. The United Arab Emirates had already sent, yesterday, Monday, April 13, a plane to another country of the Horn of Africa carrying this time 33 tons of medical supplies - including 15 supplied by the Emirates directly to Ethiopia and 3 to the African Union.

Grateful to the #UAE government for the support of 15tonnes worth of # COVID19 prevention medical supplies, including PPE gears and masks. Appreciating my brother @MohamedBinZayed for showing solidarity with #Ethiopia and the continent at large. pic.twitter.com/q6DgN5IqpF

This aid to Ethiopia " stems from the strong political relations that link the two countries, " said Camille Lons, associate researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed, does have close ties to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali.

Beyond these friendly relations between the two countries, this humanitarian gift also has a strategic impact. " The Emirates want to be sure to keep a regime that is favorable to them, " analyzes the researcher. Because even if the practice is an old tradition for the Emirates, humanitarian aid is also " a fully-fledged tool of diplomacy and UAE foreign policy ", continues Camille Lons. The country is indeed one of the main humanitarian donors in the world. In 2018, the UAE also contributed 28.5 billion dirhams, or just over 7 billion euros, to 42 countries.

Thus, " it is not surprising that this strategy continues during the Covid-19 crisis ". In addition to Somalia and Ethiopia, many other countries have received humanitarian support from the Emirates. Colombia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and even Ukraine for example. From one country to another, the strategic scope differs.

Strategic donations

But one of the recipients of aid from Abu Dhabi nevertheless surprised. Last March, Iran received several tonnes of medical equipment such as gloves and surgical masks. Certainly, Iran is the main source of Covid-19 contamination in the Middle East. But the Islamic Republic is also the UAE's biggest rival in the region. Although this gesture was welcomed by Tehran, the strategic interest in Abu Dhabi is twofold.

" This humanitarian aid can indeed serve as a political signal to try to relax relations with Tehran, " says Camille Lons. " The risks of blockage of the Strait of Hormuz have greatly worried the Emirates, " she continues. Because the economy of the monarchy is largely based on free movement in this strait.

But the researcher nuances: " The Emirates have always had economic relations with Iran and are home to a large Iranian diaspora. (…) Helping Iran in its fight against the epidemic is also a way for the Emirates to protect themselves ”from the spread of the virus.

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