Abu Dhabi: The UAE, in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), announced the arrival of its 24th evacuation plane at dawn on Friday. The plane, carrying 81 wounded and cancer patients from the Gaza Strip, half of whom are children, arrived from Ramon Airport in Israel via the Kerem Shalom crossing to receive medical treatment in UAE hospitals. The plane was accompanied by 107 family members.

This urgent evacuation comes in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, may God protect him, to provide treatment and healthcare to 1,000 wounded Palestinian children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip in UAE hospitals.

Upon the aircraft's arrival, medical teams transported the wounded and injured whose conditions required immediate medical attention to hospitals, while the remaining patients and their companions were transferred to Emirates Humanitarian City, their current residence.

This initiative falls within the framework of the UAE's historic support for the Palestinian people and its solidarity with the residents of Gaza during the current crisis they face. The UAE's humanitarian initiatives contribute to mitigating the catastrophic impacts facing the population of the Gaza Strip, particularly children, women, and the elderly.

His Excellency Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Deputy Director-General of the UAE Agency for International Aid, said: "The UAE's ongoing medical evacuation efforts reflect its commitment to providing advanced healthcare to injured Palestinians and contributing to humanitarian support during these critical conditions facing the population of the Gaza Strip."

His Excellency Sultan Al Shamsi added that the UAE will continue to work diligently with international partners and the United Nations to redouble efforts to alleviate this disaster and humanitarian suffering.

Since the outbreak of the crisis, the UAE has been committed to providing treatment for those injured and healthcare to the residents of Gaza through the UAE field hospital stationed in the southern Gaza Strip and the floating hospital off the coast of the Egyptian city of Arish. It has also provided support to Gaza's hospitals with equipment, medicines, and medical supplies.

Since the beginning of the crisis, the UAE has been quick to provide urgent humanitarian and relief aid and supplies to the Gaza Strip. These initiatives are a continuation of the UAE's concerted and coordinated efforts to alleviate the suffering of civilians in the Strip as a result of the worsening humanitarian crisis and to mitigate its negative repercussions.