Image: Screen shot of the video
Doha: H E Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Secretary-General of QNTC, has announced to offer free of charge services to all the people and government who are willing to supply medical aid and medical equipment to the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is one of the worst affected coronavirus (COVID-19) countries in the world after China and Italy.
The announcement came when H E Al Baker was speaking to a television channel at the Hamad International Airport's (HIA) cargo terminal while he was personally overseeing the loading of six tonnes of medical aid in a Qatar Airways cargo plane, donated by the Sate of Qatar.
"Qatar Airways is always available if my government- the government of the State of Qatar- decides to transport medical supplies and medical equipment to all the people all over the world that are in need," H E Al Baker told the channel.
He added: "Qatar is know for its humanitarian stand, and the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is always at the forefront of helping the people in need around the world. Qatar Airways is just doing its part in this supply chain. We are now going to supply six tonnes of medical supplies, including face masks, to the Islamic Republic of Iran to assist the people in this dark hours. We at Qatar Airways also going to carry free of charge from all over the world from people and governments who want to donate medical supplies and medical equipment to people of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Qatar Airways, in its official twitter handle, said: "During this difficult time, its is our shared responsibility to support the Iranian people and we will do our part by providing aircraft free of charge to transport donated medical supplies from around the world.
Qatar Cargo, a subsidiary of Qatar Airways, has also launched a short promotional video highlighting its state-of-the-art freight services providing all over the world.
Qatar Cargo has noted that all the medical supplies and items are transported via its climate control cargo centre at the HIA. It also said that it has a specialised air freight service-QR Pharma- which delivers life-saving healthcare products globally, safely, securely, and reliably.
"Qatar Cargo connecting and supplying Qatar and the world. Operating 24/7 at HIA and all over the globe, transporting a variety of essential goods, supporting global trade and commerce, transporting fresh food and livestock with great care. Providing fresh produce where it's needed, as well as time-critical and temperature-sensitive goods," read a captioned video showing the world-class cargo handing facilities at the HIA.
Social media is flooded with messages praising Qatar's timely support to Iran at this hours of crisis.
An Iranian social media activist MAYSAM BIZAER, praising Qatar's help for Iran, tweeted: "When Qatar was under the blockade by S. Arabia and (the) UAE, Iran was among first countries to assist it by sending all needed goods. Now as Iran is amid Covid-19 Qatar Airways has pledged to carry all medical donations to Iran free, prompting praise & gratitude from Iranians. Thank you."
