Dubai, a key transport hub, has announced on Sunday its initiative in helping to accelerate delivery of COVID-19 vaccines into developing nations.

The statement comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern that at the current rate, poor countries are being abandoned in getting their COVID-19 vaccine supply.

The Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which includes Dubai-based Emirates airline and global logistics giant DP World, hopes to speed up distribution of vaccines in the world, according to a report in AFP.

The alliance will support the WHO’s COVAX facility which aims to distribute 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The alliance, however, did not say how many vaccines will they deliver.

“The distribution will particularly focus on emerging markets, where populations have been hard-hit by the pandemic, and pharmaceutical transport and logistics are challenging,” the alliance said.

The UAE has administered vaccines to quarter of its population next to Israel.

WHO tells rich nations to avoid hoarding COVID-19 vaccine supply because this may only drag the pandemic longer.

The alliance will work with pharmaceutical firms to transport vaccine doses particularly those that require very cold temperatures.

“Together, we are able to store a large volume of vaccine doses at a time and bring in and distribute vaccines to any point around the world within 48 hours,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Emirates Airline.