The UAE has reiterated its unwavering commitment to fostering international solidarity and humanitarian cooperation through various programmes and initiatives worldwide, a report from the state news media said.
Numerous initiatives have been launched by the UAE over the years to help the most vulnerable communities across the world.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan launched the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Initiative, with AED20 billion ($5.44 billion) allocated for humanitarian works, while His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, spearheaded the Mothers’ Endowment initiative, an AED1 billion ($272 million) endowment fund that aims to support the education and training of millions of people around the world.
Read: UAE establishes new agency to lead humanitarian aid, disaster relief efforts
“Joint international humanitarian action should be boosted to bridge the global shortfall in humanitarian assistance by improving the efficiency of humanitarian work, involving the private sector and establishing good governance in countries in need of assistance,” Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid said during an event in Dubai attended by then-UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon.
Alleviating poverty
Moreover, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, announced a $100 million endowment to the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty through the UAE Aid Agency.
The Reaching the Last Mile Initiative, a collection of global health programs supported by the philanthropy of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, has pledged AED55 million ($14.97 million) in support of the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE).
The UAE has also launched an urgent vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip through Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, with the aim of protecting over 640,000 children from the threat of polio. The country provided humanitarian, medical, and water infrastructure aid to the people of Gaza, benefiting over 1 million.
The UAE provided 21,000 tonnes of food, health aid, and shelter materials, in coordination with international organizations including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Office of the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza.
The UAE President directed a $100 million emergency relief package for Lebanon and initiated the “UAE Stands with Lebanon” campaign. The UAE also provided $30 million in assistance to displaced Lebanese citizens in Syria.
Read: UAE President directs $100 million in urgent relief for Lebanon
In April, the UAE committed $100 million to bolster humanitarian efforts in Sudan and its neighboring countries. In Chad, new initiatives were introduced, alongside a $10.25 million contribution to the United Nations to support Sudanese refugee women impacted by the ongoing crisis.
Leading efforts worldwide
With these actions led by the UAE leadership, the UAE has maintained a strong global humanitarian presence, providing relief and assistance to those affected by natural disasters in various countries around the world. In this regard, the UAE extended support to nations including Burkina Faso, Brazil, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, Nigeria, Nepal, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and many more.
Additionally, the UAE has pledged $50 million to the second phase of the Lives and Livelihoods Fund 2.0 (LLF 2.0), a significant multi-donor initiative that aids member countries of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in creating sustainable pathways to lift millions out of poverty.
In conclusion, the fundamental purpose of UAE foreign assistance is to reduce poverty and assist countries and communities in need, whenever and wherever they are.
With these initiatives, the UAE also aims to promote peace, prosperity, and stability in the Middle East and beyond, build strong relationships with other countries, bolster the UAE’s standing in the international community and stimulate economic growth in the developing world.
