UAE’s compassion knows no borders

The coronavirus pandemic has turned out to be the worst global crisis since World War II. With almost no country spared of the ill-effect of the deadly pandemic, global solidarity has become all the more paramount to tackle the situation.

COVID has amplified the need for the world to redouble its efforts to ensure that all people, including the most vulnerable, get the needed support.

The ever-benevolent UAE has been wholeheartedly supporting global efforts to alleviate the pandemic’s health and economic impact on humanity. The launching of a humanitarian COVID-19 response campaign, titled ‘Support Knows No Safe Distance’, by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of The Big Heart Foundation, TBHF, and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, to protect marginalised and vulnerable groups from the devastating impacts of the coronavirus pandemic once again highlights the fact that UAE’s kindness knows no borders.

As Sheikha Jawaher points out, “Time is of the essence, and a lot can be done in the context of prevention and blocking the path of the virus’ spread through rapid and effective response especially in crowded and ill-equipped refugee settlements.”

The campaign’s initial operations will focus on supporting healthcare capacities in refugee and internally displaced people, IDPs, sites in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Bangladesh and Kenya, along with monitoring the latest developments in the health situation across various refugee and IDPs sites around the world.

Locally, TBHF will provide food supplies to workers and families from different nationalities residing in the UAE who have been affected directly or indirectly by the spread of COVID-19.

Considering the noble intention of the campaign, individuals, communities, nations, governments and businesses around the world should wholeheartedly extend their charitable donations and zakat.

As the world witnesses its worst refugee crisis, with 70.8 million people forced out of their homes according to UNHCR, the campaign has strategically identified refugee and IDP hotspot nations to prevent the catastrophic impact of a coronavirus outbreak in densely populated camps by stepping up life-saving support to protect those seeking refuge in these settlements.

According to UNHCR statistics in 2018, Lebanon is home to 966,089 refugees, while Jordan and Kenya host 767,874 and 471,724 refugees, respectively.

Around 906,690 people are seeking asylum in Bangladesh, while Palestine is home to 238,000 internally displaced people.

The campaign has rightly developed targeted strategies by identifying the priorities and needs of refugees across all beneficiary nations, to ensure that there are no barriers to refugees and other vulnerable populations in accessing health systems in an effective manner.

As Sheikha Jawaher mentioned, the campaign and its goals are in line with the COVID-19 response efforts and directions of the UAE, represented in providing all possible forms of support to those in need during these trying times.

In her own words: “We are furthering the efforts our country and our leadership, which has demonstrated exceptional readiness and capability in extending its support to those near and far to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of their communities.”

“We take pride in our UAE community, that has always shown solidarity with those in need. Every individual matters and plays an important role in our society, which is why supporting the people who have been affected by this pandemic the most, regardless of race or nationality, is our civic duty, for they are all part of our UAE community.”