The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has dispatched a humanitarian aid ship carrying 2,500 tonnes of relief supplies to support communities affected by the recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. The vessel departed UAE ports on Thursday, bound for Gwadar Port in Pakistan, from where the cargo will be transported overland into Afghanistan. The shipment includes food, medical supplies, and shelter materials, forming part of an emergency relief operation coordinated under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The initiative is being led by the UAE’s Joint Operations Command in collaboration with the UAE Aid Agency and a consortium of national humanitarian and charitable organisations. The relief mission follows a magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 9 September, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Afghan authorities have confirmed more than 2,200 fatalities, with thousands more injured or displaced. Homes and infrastructure in several remote and mountainous districts sustained severe damage, prompting urgent appeals for international assistance.
UAE authorities stated that the aid shipment forms a critical part of the country’s wider emergency response, which includes a relief bridge to deliver urgent assistance through both air and sea routes. Earlier this week, three UAE Air Force aircraft delivered over 105 tonnes of food supplies directly to Afghanistan as part of the initial phase of the operation. The Joint Operations Command confirmed that the aid ship was loaded and prepared in coordination with multiple UAE-based entities, reflecting a multi-agency effort to deliver emergency support.
UAE reiterates commitment to global humanitarian efforts
The ship’s arrival at Gwadar is expected within days, after which the supplies will be moved across the border into Afghanistan’s quake-affected regions. This operation represents one of the UAE’s largest single aid deliveries to Afghanistan in recent years. The 2,500-tonne consignment is designed to address immediate humanitarian needs, including food security, access to clean water, emergency shelter, and critical medical support. Distribution of the aid will be coordinated with local authorities and humanitarian partners on the ground in Afghanistan.
The UAE has maintained an active role in international humanitarian relief operations, particularly in crisis zones across the Middle East and South Asia. Since the earthquake, the UAE has mobilized resources through government channels and partnered agencies to expedite the deployment of assistance. In addition to emergency supplies, the response includes the deployment of technical teams to coordinate logistics and facilitate delivery to remote areas. Road networks in some affected districts remain compromised, and authorities are working to ensure safe passage for humanitarian convoys moving from Pakistan into Afghanistan.
Multi agency collaboration ensures swift humanitarian response
The UAE’s latest aid initiative comes amid growing international concern over the humanitarian situation in eastern Afghanistan, where thousands remain without adequate shelter and medical care. Relief agencies have reported a shortage of essential supplies, including medicine and clean water, in the hardest-hit regions. The earthquake’s impact has been most severe in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, where search and rescue efforts have been completed and recovery operations are underway.
Afghan government agencies have confirmed that emergency response teams are on site, coordinating with international partners to manage the distribution of aid. Officials confirmed that additional support from the UAE is under evaluation, with current operations focused on ensuring the timely delivery of supplies already en route. The UAE government has reiterated its commitment to supporting Afghanistan during this emergency phase, through structured coordination with national and international stakeholders. – By Content Syndication Services.