Turkish president says the move is also aimed at increasing the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza
mena3 hours ago
The United Nations reached out to the UAE to help generate fund that could help close $15b shortfall in global humanitarian aid on Sunday.
In an exceptional move, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon unveiled a report in Dubai on Sunday, which highlighted a need for an additional $15 billion to meet the growing humanitarian needs of victims in conflict zones around the world.
Ban hails the UAE's generosityHis Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met on the sidelines of the launch of a UN report in Dubai.Shaikh Mohammed and Ban discussed the state of refugees who are in need of special humanitarian aid to sustain them and provide certain minimum necessities of life as they battle dire conditions like cold weather, hunger and homelessness. Ban hailed the UAE's humanitarian assistance, and cooperation extended by Emirati authorities with UN organisations and programmes. He also pointed out the role played by the Jebel Ali-based International Humanitarian City that is chaired by Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of Shaikh Mohammed. Among those who attended the meeting were Princess Haya, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, and other top officials. - Wam |
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Why UN is looking the Islamic wayKristalina Georgieva Realising that outdated aid system will not help raise funds to meet humanitarian needs, a United Nations panel has discussed the possibility of levying micro payments relying on Islamic finance. By tapping into innovative sources of finance, such as smartphone apps, and wealthy Islamic donors, the panel of nine experts said such a scheme could work, though some members are reported to be "dead against" the idea of taxation. The authors of the report highlighted the need to coordinate the rising share of government aid donated by richer Gulf states, especially given the overwhelming needs of people affected by conflict in the Arab world. The panel has already made initial contact with the world football governing body, FIFA, to consider how funds might be generated from a 'global luxury tax'. And the idea of small levies on entertainment purchases or taxi rides, for example on users of the Uber smartphone app, were also discussed. Speaking on idea of taxation, Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commission vice president and co-chair of the panel, added that such schemes already exist. Another idea explored in the report is the use of Islamic mandatory alms-giving or zakat, which is estimated by the Islamic Development Bank to be worth between $232 billion and $560 billion annually, the report said. Former World Bank economist, Georgieva, noted that $3-5 billion of the $15 billion funding gap could be met by Islamic finance. One example cited was the Islamic funding practice known as sukuk, which raised $700 million between 2014 and 2015 for a global immunisation scheme, supported by philanthropists, governments and the World Bank. reporters@kghaleejtimes.com |
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