Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), a humanitarian organisation that supports official authorities, launched initiatives to support Lebanon after the Beirut explosion.

Etihad organised aid to support residents who had been injured or displaced from their homes in Beirut and gathered donations including medical equipment, clothes, and amenity bags, masks, shoes and blankets. In addition, Etihad and ERC supplied tents to provide shelter for those who had lost their homes and five medical tents to act as an on-field clinic for anyone requiring emergency medical assistance.

Dr Nadia Bastaki, Vice President Medical Services, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Our main focus of this campaign is to alleviate suffering for the people in Beirut. I am extremely proud that as part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, over 50 of our own executives, pilots, cabin crew and ground staff volunteered to pack and organise the aid that has been collected in the UAE.”

Etihad’s CSR programme also launched the initiative ‘To Beirut’ that includes a new drive to collect dried food items such as rice, sugar, tea, instant coffee, flour, pasta and dried milk.

Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme by Etihad Airways, is also encouraging its members to donate their miles to support the victims of the Beirut explosion. The miles will be used to purchase protective equipment including masks and gloves, medical supplies and medicines, dry food items and support home renovation. Etihad Guest will also contribute towards the donations. – TradeArabia News Service