Humanitarian assistance from the United Arab Emirates is now reaching survivors of the powerful earthquake that tore through the southern Philippines, with the UAE Aid Agency leading an accelerated relief push for hard-hit communities.
The magnitude 7.8 quake, which struck along the country’s southern coast, has claimed 47 lives and left more than 200 people injured. In response, Emirati authorities moved quickly to channel support toward affected areas.
Officials said the scope and nature of the aid were shaped by an on-the-ground evaluation carried out by the agency together with Philippine counterparts, a process meant to pinpoint what survivors need most urgently. That assessment, according to the agency, was designed to direct resources toward the most pressing gaps rather than rely on broad estimates.
Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, who chairs the UAE Aid Agency, tied the intervention to the country’s broader posture on global crises. “This urgent UAE response stems from the country’s international responsibility toward communities and peoples facing natural disasters and crises. We aim to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the earthquake and help with early recovery and stability in coordination with international organisations and relevant local authorities,” he said.
He stressed that the agency was working to move basic necessities into affected zones with minimal delay, describing the moment as one demanding speed. That effort, he noted, is being guided by humanitarian readings supplied by the relevant United Nations bodies.
Separately, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced support for the Philippines in the wake of the disaster in the Mindanao region, conveying condolences to the families of those killed and to the nation’s government and citizens, alongside wishes for the recovery of the wounded.
The agency framed the deployment as part of the UAE’s standing duty to act when populations are confronted by sudden catastrophe — a commitment Al Ameri said extends to delivering essential life requirements as swiftly as conditions allow.
