Zayed charity transcends borders through humanitarian initiatives

Zayed Humanitarian Work Day saw the launch of many humanitarian initiatives through thousands of events organised by public, private, and national institutions across the country.

Abu Dhabi - The United Arab Emirates observed the Zayed Humanitarian Work Day on Monday, in memory of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the nation, who passed away on the 19th day of Ramadan in 2004.

Shaikh Zayed’s generosity was unlimited, says Fujairah Ruler Fujairah - His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, on Monday said the Zayed Humanitarian Work Day represents loyalty to the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, who promoted unlimited generosity. In a statement marking the occasion, the Ruler of Fujairah said the day also celebrates the UAE’s humanitarian approach established by the late leader, “who upheld and promoted noble values”. Shaikh Hamad noted that Shaikh Zayed’s legacy of generous giving saw the UAE Cabinet designate the anniversary of his death on Ramadan 19 as Zayed Day for Humanitarian Work.  — Wam

For the last 11 years, the death anniversary of the leader — revered equally by expatriates and the local community— is earmarked to celebrate and launch several humanitarian activities to assist the needy around the world. Adding another milestone in the history of the nation, this year’s celebration saw the launch of many humanitarian initiatives through thousands of events organised by public, private, and national institutions across the country.

Over the years, the UAE has contributed to many international humanitarian initiatives that alleviated the sufferings of people in the marginalised regions and conflict zones, in addition to victims of natural disasters, violence, hunger, poverty, diseases and destitution.

Generous initiatives by The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; and Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, have also been implemented.

Milestones

According to the official report on the UAE foreign aid, the country, in its history, disbursed its highest value of aid payments in 2013.

The DAC, which is part of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, announced that the UAE ranked first globally on a list of the top donors of relief aid for the year 2013, thus achieving a historic leap in the field of foreign aid, raising it from nineteenth place in 2012 to first place in 2013.

The Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation has spent, since its inception in 1992, more than $460 million on various programmes and humanitarian projects carried out in 96 countries across all continents.

Most recently, Shaikh Khalifa and Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed have issued instructions to help the people of Yemen to endure their current ordeal.

Till date, the UAE has provided humanitarian aid worth Dh93.84million (93,840,200) to Yemeni people in meeting their needs. The relief material include nearly 80,000 tonnes of food; medical aid and fuel; transported by five ships, 11 airplanes, and 40 trucks.

Shaikh Hamdan noted that the UAE’s position among the top donors of aid is a natural result of the late Shaikh Zayed’s efforts to do good and his devotion to serve humanity anywhere in the world, which is the path that the UAE’s wise leadership still follows.

The UAE came in sixth on a list of the most generous donors of foreign aid in the world, according to the classification of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2012, as the amount of foreign aid provided by the UAE between its formation on December 2, 1971 and 2010 had reached more than $163 billion in the form of loans or gift aid, while it had provided $2.11 billion in 2011 and over $1.59 billion in 2012. 

• UAE