An Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 747-400 Freighter was rerouted from its commercial services to carry 14 urgently-required vehicles - three Nissan Patrols, one Nissan Xtrail and 10 Nissan Double Cab Pick-ups - on behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies located at the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
The total shipment, weighing nearly 30,000 kilos, filled the main deck of the jumbo Boeing 747-400F, while additional relief goods, such as tents and medicines, were carried in its lower deck. The freighter departed from Dubai International Airport on Oct 17 at 22:10 hours and arrived in Islamabad at 02:10 hours Oct. 18.
Phil Jones, Head of Base at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said, "The Federation has a large team in the earthquake region, including a number of Emergency Response Units that arrived as early as 10th October. In addition to relief items such as tents and blankets, there is an urgent requirement for appropriate vehicles to support our operations and these are in short supply. We are grateful to Emirates SkyCargo for diverting their freighter from scheduled services and for responding swiftly and in a thoroughly professional manner."
More relief supplies - tents, blankets, food and medicines - were carried by two Emirates SkyCargo freighters to Islamabad last night. One more Boeing 747-400F was re-routed from its scheduled services and carried more than 115 tonnes of relief supplies to Islamabad.
Emirates SkyCargo pressed its newly-converted Airbus A310-300F into service, to serve Islamabad with nearly 35 tons of relief supplies on behalf of international relief agencies. The freighter left Dubai at 21:10 hours to reach Islamabad at 01:15 hours local time. Earlier in the day, the A310F carried two more Nissan Xtrails and other relief cargo on its scheduled services to the city.
Ram Menen, Emirates' Senior Vice President Cargo said, "Emirates SkyCargo is closely monitoring the situation in Pakistan, and we have sent hundreds of tonnes of relief supplies to Islamabad in the past week. We are liaising with international and local authorities as well as governments and relief agencies to co-ordinate the logistics of sending aid to the country."
Two weeks ago, Emirates SkyCargo carried tents, blankets and medicines on behalf of the Pakistani Consulate and the Joint Committee of Relief for various Pakistani associations in Dubai to Islamabad on its Boeing 747-400F freighter. The cargo division is also carrying relief supplies on behalf of governments and organizations in its 36 weekly flights to Pakistan - five flights to Islamabad, 25 to Karachi, four to Lahore and two to Peshawar.
Meanwhile, Dnata has joined the relief efforts by organizing a donation drive within the Emirates Group to buy a minimum of 10,000 blankets, which will be given to the representatives of the Pakistan Association and Pakistan Business Council. These will then be sent to the Red Crescent Society in Islamabad.
