The first aid plane from the UAE carrying 44 tonnes of food supplies arrived in the Yemeni capital on Thursday as part of the “Sanadhum” (help them) relief campaign launched by the country to help Yemenis counter food shortages in hunger-stricken regions.

Two more aid planes are to leave for Yemen today and tomorrow, director of the Red Crescent Authority (RCA) office in Sanaa Khalfan Saif Al-Kindi told Wam.

The RCA, in a press release, stressed that the leadership of the UAE is very much interested in alleviating the suffering of Yemeni brothers and improving their humanitarian conditions during the current crisis. “The wise leadership will not spare no effort to minimise the consequences of the crisis on Yemeni brothers,” it said.

The RCA coordinates its Yemen relief operation with “Care by Air: A helping hand from the UAE”, a non-profit humanitarian relief initiative, launched by Maximus Air Cargo in 2009 in partnership with Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Airports Company to deliver at-cost transportation and logistic services to help balance the needs of humanitarian organisations.

Secretary-General of Yemeni Red Crescent Fuad Al-Maakhadhi said the poorest families in Sanaa, Omran, Hijja and Al-Muhaiwet were identified and will receive food aid coupons.

The UAE’s Yemen operation was launched upon directives from the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and orders from General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and it is being followed up by Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the RCA.