São Paulo – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of Dubai-based carrier Emirates, reached an agreement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to prioritize transport, particularly to developing countries, of Covid-19 vaccines, medication, medical equipment and other essential supplies to fight the pandemic.
The announcement was made on Wednesday (17) by Emirates SkyCargo as part of a string of measures to help global communities recover from the devastating impact of the coronavirus.
The UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative relies on partners with the ability to collectively distribute supplies to over 100 markets with help from the Covax Facility, a worldwide effort to promote equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. The UNICEF initiative will also provide a template for future global partnerships in humanitarian and health crises.
Emirates SkyCargo divisional senior vice president Nabil Sultan said each day counts in the fight against Covid-19, and that the sooner communities get access to vaccines, the sooner they can conquer the virus and resume activity. Emirates SkyCargo is the leading air freight carrier in temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, including vaccines. It has a dedicated vaccine hub in the Dubai Airport, and a certificate of good distribution and storage practices from the European Union.
Emirates SkyCargo boasts over 15,000 sqm of space to store Covid-19 vaccines, and the ability to fly smaller amounts on a regular basis to markets with limited temperature control infrastructure, thereby reducing the need for largescale storage.
In January 2021, mandated by UAE vice president and prime-minister and Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Emirates SkyCargo joined three other Dubai-based organizations – DP World, International Humanitarian City and Dubai Airports – to form a Covid-19 vaccine alliance and to promote quick vaccine shipping via Dubai to developing countries.
On January 22, 2 million doses of the vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharma company AstraZeneca, in partnership with Brazil’s Fiocruz, coming from India and manufactured by the Serum Institute, arrived at São Paulo’s GRU Airport on board a commercial flight from Emirates.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
