KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has delivered 96 metric tonnes of medicines and medical supplies to Afghanistan in an airlift aimed at supporting health services as the country faces a worsening humanitarian crisis.
According to Gulf News, the shipment, facilitated by Dubai Humanitarian, departed from Al Maktoum International Airport and arrived in Kabul on Friday under the directives of UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.
The cargo included emergency health kits, essential medicines and primary healthcare supplies intend to support hospitals and clinics operating under severe shortages and rising demand for basic services.
The shipment was coordinated with the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières and UNICEF, which have been working with local partners to maintain essential health services across the country.
Officials said the aid is expected to support more than 250,000 people for up to three months by helping hospitals and clinics continue to provide essential care.
“This airlift to Afghanistan reflects the humanitarian community’s ability to adapt how assistance is delivered in response to rapidly evolving realities on the ground,” said Giuseppe Saba, CEO and Board Member of Dubai Humanitarian, which facilitated the delivery. “Our priority is to ensure that life-saving medicines and relief supplies continue to reach vulnerable communities.”
The delivery comes as Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with UN agencies estimating that 21.9 million people, or about 45% of the population, will need assistance in 2026.
The country’s health system has come under further strain from repeated natural disasters, including earthquakes in 2025 and heavy rain, floods, and landslides in early 2026, along with drought, disease outbreaks, and the return of large numbers of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries.
The United Nations and aid groups have repeatedly called for sustained international support to help meet the needs of millions of people across the country, particularly women, children and communities in remote areas.
