Skip to main content

UAE sends medical and food aid to Syria

The United Arab Emirates is calling on other countries in the region and around the world to repair ties and cooperate with the Syrian government amid the ongoing civil war.
Displaced Syrians wait in a queue as an NGO delivers bread as they wait to receive humanitarian aid in a stadium that has been turned into a makeshift refugee shelter on Feb. 19, 2020, in Idlib, Syria.

The United Arab Emirates sent humanitarian aid to Syria on Thursday. It is the latest example of the UAE seeking to strengthen ties with Syria, which has strained relations with many Arab states due to the ongoing Syrian civil war.

An Emirati medical and food assistance aircraft landed in Damascus early Thursday morning. The medical aid included equipment to help combat COVID-19, the Syrian state media outlet SANA reported.

Syria’s relations with other Arab states have been severely damaged by the Syrian civil war, but the UAE is leading efforts to mend ties with the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad. Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 at the start of the uprising against Assad following the government’s violent crackdown on protests. Several Arab states, including the UAE, originally supported Syrian rebel groups in the war.

Abu Dhabi has since shifted its stance to one of rapprochement with Damascus. Last month, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for international cooperation with Assad and said US sanctions on Syria “make the matter difficult.” The UAE as well as its ally Egypt are also now calling for Syria to be readmitted into the Arab League.

Syria is in need of assistance due to the ongoing war, a bad economy and harsh US sanctions. The United Nations believes the coronavirus is far more widespread in the country than the government is letting on. Millions of Syrians also lack access to sufficient food, according to the UN.

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial