Volunteers helping flood-affected residents.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, chaired the first meeting of the National Opportunities for Volunteering During Crises Task Force, including representatives of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Emirates Foundation, as well as a number of relevant authorities.

During the meeting, Hessa directed the task force to put a plan for the next phase regarding effects of rain and floods in the eastern region in terms of cleaning of the affected areas by the volunteers in cooperation with the competent authorities.

This follows the launch of a campaign (together hand in hand) to clean up the streets and affected areas in Al Fujairah in coordination with the Fujairah government.

The meeting announced that more than 500 volunteers registered through the National Volunteering Platform (volunteers.ae), to participate in the campaign, which will continue until the goals are achieved in cooperation with the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, UAE Red Crescent, Ministry of Interior, Emirates Foundation, Fujairah Municipality and Fujairah Department of Public Works.

The volunteers will support national efforts there to reflect the UAE government's vision and wise leadership with a future vision that keeps pace with future trends in the UAE.

A volunteer stands besides a bus meant to transport flood-affected residents to safer places.

The meeting stressed the importance of taking advantage of experiences, challenges and lessons, ensuring that they are always ready to overcome various future challenges.

As part of the efforts of the Ministry of Community Development in collaboration with various federal and local government authorities, private sector and civil society, affected families by rain and floods in the eastern regions will be provided temporary shelters in a number of hotels and hotel apartments in neighbouring areas in the United Arab Emirates, thus the Ministry and a number of volunteers continue to do exceptional services to support these families with the needed transportation and services.

In collaboration with Emirates Foundation, (145) registered and trained volunteers will organise the transportation and services for affected families.

Volunteers play an important role from the morning till the evening, through the ministry's call centre to reach out to affected families, targeting (3,983) senior citizens and people of determination by calling them, asking about their needs and requirements, ensuring their safety, and securing all their needs, including shelter.

Since Friday, volunteers have completed 1,300 calls with senior citizens, people of determination, family members affected by floods in the eastern regions accommodating their urgent needs in coordination with competent authorities as well transporting affected people using 4x4 vehicles and buses provided by various authorities to secured areas.

The volunteers also checked on the affected families after being transferred to hotel apartments in Al Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman and Dubai, particularly families from senior citizens, children and those who do not have a financial supporter and need assistance during their shelter.

Volunteers from the Ministry of Community Development contacted families from the moment they left the affected area until they arrived at hotel facilities. They also provided food, medicine and clothing on a daily basis to residents of hotel facilities from affected families.