Emirates Airline and Dubai Humanitarian have launched an airbridge to Sri Lanka to transport urgent humanitarian assistance following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Over the next two weeks, Emirates will provide more than 100 tonnes of cargo capacity at no cost on its daily passenger flights to Colombo, enabling the rapid movement of relief supplies to affected areas.
The first consignments departed Dubai International Airport on Tuesday, 9 December, aboard three non-stop Emirates flights to Colombo. The shipments included fortified biscuits from the World Food Programme, food items and relief supplies from the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and tarpaulins and additional materials from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Upon arrival, the aid will be handed to a government-established disaster management unit for distribution to communities affected and displaced by severe flooding.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said the airline was mobilising its operational capacity in coordination with Dubai Humanitarian to ensure a steady flow of essential supplies to Sri Lanka. He noted the airline’s commitment to dedicating bellyhold cargo space on its daily flights to support ongoing relief efforts.
Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of Dubai Humanitarian, said the collaboration reflected the strength of the partnership between the two entities and Dubai’s role as a global center for humanitarian response. He added that close cooperation with partners was essential to delivering aid quickly and efficiently during emergencies.
Dubai Humanitarian, the world’s largest humanitarian hub, works with more than 80 humanitarian organisations and companies. Since formalising their partnership in 2020, Emirates and Dubai Humanitarian have coordinated multiple relief missions, transporting hundreds of tonnes of aid in response to natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
These efforts have included airlifts following the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, as well as the establishment of an airbridge during catastrophic flooding in Pakistan, when Emirates provided cargo capacity across its passenger network to deliver emergency supplies to multiple airports across the country.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.
Oksana Bozhko
