ABU DHABI // Volunteers from the Red Crescent and Etihad Airways have visited a refugee camp and hospital in Jordan to provide aid and assistance to displaced Syrians.
The group went to the Emirati-Jordanian Field Hospital in Al Mafraq, close to the Syrian border, and the Mrajeeb Al Fhood camp to distribute basic humanitarian relief.
The United Nations has said Syrian refugee numbers have now exceeded two million, with more than half of them children.
More than 5,000 refugees leave Syria every day.
Etihad Airways and the Emirates Red Crescent have been actively involved in supporting Syrians since the civil war broke out in March 2011.
“Etihad Airways is very pleased to be able to offer logistics assistance in support of the significant humanitarian aid provided by the UAE Government,” said James Hogan, Etihad’s president and chief executive.
“I am especially proud of our staff, both from the UAE and Jordan, who have committed their time to provide ongoing help to alleviate the stress and suffering in this crisis.”
The combined efforts of Etihad and the Red Crescent builds on the work of previous missions to hand out relief.
Last month, the Red Crescent announced it had given more than Dh65 million in aid to Syrian refugees since they started to flee their country in January last year.
This has included food, clothing, furniture, health centres and transport.
Most of the funds, Dh42.2m, were used in Jordan.
While it is not working inside Syria, the Red Crescent has had a constant presence in neighbouring countries, including Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, to help those who have fled the fighting.
jbell@thenational.ae
