UAE offers ‘full support’ to India as it battles deadly Covid-19 wave

The UAE has offered its ‘full support’ to India as the country battles a surging number of Covid-19 cases.

The UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed his confidence in India’s ability to “overcome the challenging circumstances” triggered by the resurgence in Covid-19 cases, official news agency WAM reported.

During a phone call with Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Sheikh Abdullah also reiterated the UAE’s “full support” for and solidarity with India amidst the challenging health situation.

Sheikh Abdullah expressed UAE’s keenness to dedicate “all resources” in support of the efforts currently undertaken by the government of India to weather these tough times. He also renewed UAE’s solidarity with India and expressed confidence that the nation will survive this critical juncture, WAM reported.

Sheikh Abdullah stressed that “global synergy and concerted action are fundamental” to overcoming the fallout of the pandemic, which is taking its toll on the entire world.

Appreciated the call yesterday from HH Sheikh @ABZayed, FM of UAE expressing his solidarity with India. As always, deeply value good wishes and international cooperation.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 26, 2021

The world’s tallest tower in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa, also displayed the Indian flag on Sunday night as a mark of solidarity.

رسالة تضامن من #الإمارات للهند. #دبي

World’s tallest tower @BurjKhalifa lights up to express solidarity with India#StayStrongIndia pic.twitter.com/1DHpArYjOm

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 25, 2021

India recorded 352,991 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the fifth straight day of more than 300,000 infections, as the Covid-19 crisis in the country continues to grow.

The country had 17.3 million confirmed cases as of 8am Monday and more than 195,000 people have died, according to government data.

Earlier, the Delhi government extended a lockdown in the nation’s capital until next Monday. The region is one the country’s worst affected with hospitals turning away patients due to shortages of oxygen.

Meanwhile the US has joined European countries in offering help to India. President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser said the US will also consider offering India unused doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

With inputs from Bloomberg