KUWAIT: The first relief plane – part of the Kuwaiti air bridge took off on Wednesday, heading to Rafiq Hariri Airport with 30 tons of medicines, medical devices, and supplies on board to support the health sector in Lebanon. This was organized by the Ministry of Health in cooperation and coordination with the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, represented by the Kuwaiti Air Force.

The Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and International Cooperation Affairs, Ambassador Hamad Al-Mashaan, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) just before takeoff that, based on the leading humanitarian role of Kuwait and on the orders of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the first airlift flights were launched to help the brothers in Lebanon.

Ambassador Al-Mashaan stressed that the implementation of the air bridge comes as a translation of the Cabinet’s decision to coordinate with the ministries of health, finance, foreign affairs, and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the brothers and sisters in Lebanon in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense amid the aggressions by Zionist occupation aggression against Lebanon.

The implementation of the air bridge is a complement to the country’s firm and principled position in the humanitarian field. The flights will continue over the coming days with the participation of a number of entities, organizations, and associations active in the humanitarian field under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He reiterated Kuwait’s solidarity and its stand with the Lebanese people.

For his part, the Charge d’Affaires at the embassy of Lebanon to Kuwait, Ahmed Arafa, confirmed to KUNA that Kuwait is one of the leading countries in relief and humanitarian work, deservedly assuming the title of the leading “country of humanity” to help the needy countries around the world. He expressed his thanks to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense, represented by the Kuwaiti Air Force, for carrying out such a difficult task. — KUNA