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UAE stays at forefront of global aid efforts

By June 7, 2016 No Comments

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ranks country as top international donor of official development aid for a second year

Abu Dhabi: The UAE continued to offer humanitarian and development aid in various regions around the world during 2015, with its assistance between 1971 and 2014 adding up to Dh173 billion that has benefited 178 countries.

Statistical data released by the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (Micad) yesterday show that the development and humanitarian and charitable aid provided by the UAE during the past 44 years reached Dh173 billion across 21 sectors.

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These statistics were announced by the Micad in a special report launched on the 44th UAE National Day to highlight the country’s efforts in the field of international aid, and the initiatives of its wise leadership provided through donor institutions to improve the lives of millions of people. Through these efforts, the UAE won the title of “the most generous country in the world” in 2013 and 2014.

The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) last week released its final report on official development assistance data, previously announced in April 2015. According to the released data, the UAE ranked first globally as the largest international donor of official development aid for the second year in a row, with a total of Dh18.36 billion of development aid in 2014, accounting for 1.26 per cent of gross national income.

According to the final results published by the committee, Sweden came second with its development aid accounting for 1.09 per cent of its national income, followed by Luxembourg with 1.06 per cent and Norway in fourth place with 1 per cent.

Occupying this position for the second year in a row reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to its humanitarian mission, and the principles on which it was established. It also enhances its position as a humanitarian hub and a source of relief and aid for all friendly nations.

Shaikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, said this achievement is also a testimony to the generous policies adopted by the UAE’s wise leadership.

These policies, she continued, were established by the late founder of the nation, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and carried forward by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

According to the latest information released by the ministry, Asia was the main beneficiary of support and aid funds provided during the past 44 years, with a total of Dh79.4 billion, followed by Africa, with Dh75.4 billion pumped into development projects such as housing complexes, roads, bridges, power generation plants and others.

Released records show that the largest percentage of UAE aid is concentrated in the government and civil society sector, which received Dh80.6 billion, followed by the public programmes support sector with a total of Dh 22.5 billion in aid. The value of humanitarian and relief aid in emergency situations accounted for about Dh7.7 billion.

Support to Yemen, Syria

In the context of ongoing humanitarian development in Yemen, the UAE played a pivotal role in responding to humanitarian crises on the ground, thus becoming the second largest donor of humanitarian aid in Yemen globally, according to data released by the UN Financial Tracking Service (FTS).

The total UAE foreign aid granted to Yemen until the end of 2015 amounted to about Dh1.6 billion, dedicated to infrastructure rebuilding projects.

The process of sending UAE humanitarian aid to Yemen was carried out over four stages aimed at the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Aden and the neighbouring provinces, with a focus on electricity, food, health, water, sanitation, fuel, and transport, as well as coordination and support. The aid was distributed to the provinces of Aden, Lahj, Al Dhali, Abyan, Marib, Shabwa, Hadramout, Al Mahr, and Socotra island.

It is worth mentioning that the total value of UAE aid to Yemen from 1971 to 2015 amounted to Dh6.65 billion.

In a similar context, Syria has had a large share of UAE aid and support, totalling Dh2.2 billion until the end of 2015. The UAE was at the forefront of countries, which came to the aid of war-affected Syrians since 2012.

The UAE’s response to the crisis ensured assistance programmes in Syria and in countries hosting Syrian refugees like Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt, including Palestinian refugees in Syria, to benefit up to 1.5 million refugees and displaced people.

Polio eradication funds

The UAE assistance also included aid for the eradication of polio. The UAE in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated with $100 million to buy vaccines for children in Pakistan and Afghanistan meanwhile it allocated $16.7 million for fighting polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan

In 2013, the UAE donated to the MOH with $ 8 million to fight polio in Africa and the ERC donated also to the UNICEF with $0.74 million to fight polio in Syrian. In 2014, the UAE in collaboration with the Ministry of Health presented $6 million and another $9.2 million to counter polio in Africa and Pakistan

Over 2011 and 2013, the UAE donated with $33 million to support the Global Alliance for Vaccines. During 2013-2018 the UAE donated with $120 million to support the global efforts to eradicate polio, especially in Pakistan and Afghanistan in which 86.6 million vaccines were given

The UAE in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched immunisation campaigns against polio during 2013-2014, which targeted 3.3 million child.

The UAE also contributed to fight unemployment in Pakistan and Afghanistan in which a total of 163.555 employees were employed including doctors, observers, administrators, and security guards.

Source: Gulf News
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