KABUL (AFP) - The United Arab Emirates has set up an air bridge to deliver tons of aid to Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, a Kabul airport operations manager said on Saturday (Sept 11).
The wealthy UAE, a close US ally, is one of a number of Gulf states that have been key staging posts for evacuation flights for foreigners and Afghans, alongside Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
"From the 3rd of September, the UAE government has activated an air bridge corridor for humanitarian aid," said Mr Ibrahim Moarafi.
Mr Moarafi is general manager and regional director of GAAC, a UAE-based company that has provided ground and security handling services at Kabul airport since November 2020.
"From that day and until now, we have received and handled 11 flights almost on a daily basis, and we have handled 255 tonnes of medical aid and food items," he said.
On Saturday, two UAE aircraft unloaded dozens of aid packages containing roast minced veal, powdered milk, cooking oil and medical supplies, an AFP correspondent said.
More than two thirds of the 120,000 Afghans and foreigners who fled Afghanistan on evacuation flights landed in the UAE and Qatar before going on to their final destinations.
Qatar hosts the largest US air force base in the region and has been the main intermediary between the Taliban and the international community.
Numerous countries, including the United States, have relocated their embassies from Kabul to Doha since the Taliban took over Afghanistan's capital on Aug 15.
The UAE was one of only three countries to recognise Taliban rule between 1996 and 2001. It currently hosts ousted president Ashraf Ghani who fled Kabul as the Taliban entered the city.
While Kabul airport has yet to receive its first international flight since the Taliban takeover, technicians at the vital facility have been racing round the clock to bring it back to life.
Mr Moarafi said efforts to make the airport fully functioning again are under way. "We have activated and resumed our operations," he said.
Related Story
Handling baby, long hours: RSAF crew ferrying 2,200 Afghan evacuees take duties in stride
Related Story
UN says Taliban-led Afghanistan needs funds to avoid collapse
Related Stories:
Related Story
No specific terrorist threat to S'pore arising from Afghanistan situation: ISD
Related Story
South Koreans welcome, extend goodwill to Afghan evacuees
Related Story
Taliban has its work cut out to win hearts and minds in Kabul
Related Story
Rallies in Kabul called off after Taliban outlaws protests
Related Story
Taliban announces hardline government as protests grow
Related Story
Plenty of post-mortems on US war in Afghanistan but little sign of self-reflection
Related Story
Taliban vs ISIS-K: Why the contest is so dangerous
Related Story
Europe ponders its Afghanistan options
Related Story
With Kabul airport closed, fearful Afghans rush for the border
Related Story
US drone strike wiped out Kabul family, brother says
Join ST's Telegram channel here and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Topics:
More Whatsapp Linkedin FB Messenger Telegram Reddit WeChat Pinterest Print Copy permalink https://str.sg/3SJc