UAE is humanitarian role model for world

The UAE has always placed great importance on providing humanitarian and emergency relief aid to those affected by crises around the world.

UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum earlier mentioned that this philosophy is firmly and solely rooted in humanitarian objectives — politics never governs it, nor is it limited by geography, race, colour or religion of the beneficiaries.

“We provide humanitarian capital and are a major relief station for the poor; we do not hesitate to help and support the brother, the ill-fated friend or the needy wherever they are. This is our message to the world, and this is the United Arab Emirates.”

True to such words, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) touched the lives of 71 million people across 108 countries with Dhs1.3 billion worth of humanitarian and social projects and relief campaigns in 2019.  More than 30 entities and initiatives under the umbrella of MBRGI carry out hundreds of projects and programmes to improve lives across five main pillars of Humanitarian Aid & Relief, Spreading Education & Knowledge, Healthcare & Disease Control, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Empowering Communities.

Dhs1.3 billion was spent on various humanitarian, relief, development and social initiatives and projects that benefitted 71 million people across 108 countries, compared to 70 million beneficiaries in 86 countries in 2018.

As many as 125,000 volunteers from all over the world joined hands with the Foundation’s 574 full-time employees to provide the support necessary to implement the humanitarian and social projects and campaigns on ground.

Drinking water scarcity is a major issue facing millions.

In 2019, around Dh262 million went towards Humanitarian Aid & Relief projects and programmes that touched the lives of more than 17 million people around the world, of whom 9 million people benefitted from clean water projects of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) in developing countries.

Suqia drilled wells and developed water distribution and purification networks across the world to address water scarcity throughout last year.

Aid operations continued from the International Humanitarian City (IHC) to aid communities stricken by natural disasters, crises or conflicts.

Through advanced infrastructure and strategic location in Dubai, the IHC members of 76 United Nations organisations, international non-governmental organisations and intergovernmental organisations dispatched 1,070 shipments with more than Dh246 million worth of humanitarian relief to countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

IHC supported an additional 13 shipments carrying over 1,000 tonnes of aid worth Dh18 million, which cost Dh14.5 million to transport.

Interestingly, for the first time, the MBRGI adopted a humanitarian cause as part of the third edition of its Arab Hope Makers initiative.

It raised Dhs88 million through a grand variety show to support the construction of the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Center in Egypt that, once complete, will provide free-of-charge high-quality cardiac care to disadvantaged communities from all over the Arab region.

The 5th edition of Arab Reading Challenge, the largest knowledge initiative to promote the culture of reading in the region, attracted over 21 million students from 96,000 schools under the guidance of 120,000 supervisors across 52 countries for the academic year 2019/2020.

The founding father of the nation, late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, once stated: “We believe that the benefit of the fortune granted to us by God should spread to cover our brothers and friends.”

The nation’s commitment to philanthropy and humanitarian assistance has remained total and inspirational.