Emirati generosity goes beyond borders

Report / Alkhaleeji Daily News website management

 In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, Emirati generosity goes beyond borders, as:

• Allocating an amount of 220 million dirhams ($60 million) to develop schools and support the educational needs of blind and visually impaired students in all regions of Ethiopia.

• The UAE and Uganda sign an agreement to build an eye hospital worth 20 million dollars.

• Providing 40,000 school bags to support education in Lebanon

• Sending relief aid to southern Ethiopia following landslides caused by heavy rains.

• The UAE sends 200 tons of urgent aid to help those affected by floods in Kenya.

In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, the United Arab Emirates announced the allocation of 220 million dirhams ($60 million) to develop schools and support the educational needs of blind and visually impaired students in all regions of Ethiopia.

This initiative, which is supervised by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, in cooperation with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and under the patronage of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, builds on the success of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak School for the Blind in Addis Ababa, which was inaugurated last May in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed, and the First Lady, Her Excellency Zinash Tiachu, along with a number of senior Emirati officials. 

The agreement was signed in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, His Excellency Mohammed Haji Al Khoori, Director General of the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, and Her Excellency Zinash Tiachu, First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

 This initiative represents an important step in developing the educational infrastructure and programs designed for students with special educational needs. 

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, "may God protect him", and with the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development Affairs and Martyrs' Families, Chairman of the International Humanitarian Affairs Council, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, and within the framework of the Emirates Global Hospitals Program, the UAE and the friendly Republic of Uganda signed an agreement to build an integrated Emirati hospital specializing in ophthalmology in the city of "Entebbe", at a value of $ 20 million.

 The agreement was signed on behalf of the UAE by His Excellency Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Deputy Chairman of the Emirates International Aid Agency, and His Excellency Vincent Bagiri Waiswa, Permanent Secretary of the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 On this occasion, His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed stressed that the agreement to build the hospital embodies the interest of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in supporting and enhancing the services of the health sector, and providing appropriate medical care for patients in need in the African continent, based on His Highness's belief in the necessity for the UAE to be a pioneer in helping the most needy peoples, and a beacon for humanity in the world, and to play an active role in serving humanity, and to remain the best support for the needy and the sick wherever they are.

His Highness said that the hospital reflects the humanitarian and civilized message of the UAE, and its keenness to develop development sectors, and enhance community services, especially in the health sector in various needy countries around the world, as it is one of the important sectors that enjoy international priority and within the sustainable development goals. 

As part of the initiatives aimed at supporting the "UAE is with you Lebanon" campaign launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, to launch a project to support the continuity of education in Lebanon, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, directed to support the project by providing 40,000 school bags.

 This support comes within the framework of the UAE's ongoing efforts to enhance education and provide assistance to our brothers in Lebanon, especially in light of the challenges facing the education sector there.

His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital School, stressed the continuation of efforts to translate the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, to enhance the role of the UAE in supporting humanitarian work and expanding the circle of beneficiaries of initiatives aimed at helping communities and countries around the world, and implementing the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, to enhance the UAE's humanitarian approach and support communities, extend a helping hand to all those in need, and develop and lead initiatives that carry hope for a better future for all. 

The UAE sent relief aid to southern Ethiopia following landslides caused by heavy rains, which resulted in loss of life and significant damage to property.

The UAE's relief efforts aim to provide urgent assistance to those affected by this natural disaster.

Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, affirmed the UAE's continued commitment to supporting brotherly and friendly countries in times of crisis and disaster, noting that this support comes within the framework of the great importance the country attaches to enhancing humanitarian and relief work at the global level. Her Excellency added that this response embodies the humanitarian values ​​of the UAE and its constant endeavor to provide a helping hand and assistance to affected communities around the world.

The UAE has sent five planes carrying 200 tons of relief aid, including basic food supplies and medical supplies, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, "may God protect him", to allocate $15 million to help those affected by the floods and repercussions of the heavy rains that recently swept Kenya, killing hundreds of innocent people and displacing thousands of residents.

His Excellency Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organizations Affairs, said: Sending aid to Kenya comes in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, "may God protect him", to mobilize efforts and provide the necessary and effective humanitarian support to confront the effects of the floods that hit Kenya.

Today, the UAE sent the first relief aid plane carrying 100 tons of food, medical and relief supplies to help those affected by the floods and repercussions of the heavy rains that recently swept Brazil.

Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, said: “As part of the UAE’s continuous monitoring of many natural disasters such as floods and their effects, and the resulting severe damage that requires urgent humanitarian intervention, the UAE Foreign Aid has been keen to take the initiative to provide urgent humanitarian relief support to confront these disasters, mitigate their repercussions, and support the peoples of these countries to overcome their destructive effects, especially vulnerable groups of the population, including women, children, and the elderly.”

The UAE sent an aid plane to the Republic of Seychelles carrying 50 tons of food supplies to provide the necessary humanitarian needs to relieve thousands of families affected by the recent torrential floods that hit the Seychelles and caused severe damage in many areas, in coordination with a number of Emirati humanitarian institutions.

His Excellency Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organizations, said: "The UAE's humanitarian response, within the framework of the wise leadership's directives, is working with all efforts to continue providing humanitarian support aimed at alleviating the impact of crises and humanitarian and natural disasters that many countries around the world have recently witnessed due to climate change, whether waves of drought, floods or earthquakes, by providing food, medicine and various relief materials according to the data of each humanitarian crisis."

The United Arab Emirates continues its efforts to support the Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip and alleviate their suffering and is one of the first countries to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, focusing its efforts on supporting various vital sectors, and providing humanitarian and medical aid by air, land and sea.

The German News Agency "DPA" reported, citing figures published in the Financial Tracking Service of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (FTS), that the UAE topped the list of countries that most supported the residents of the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the crisis in October 2023 until the end of November 2024, with a value of $828 million, or 42% of the total aid provided.

In commitment to its usual humanitarian and relief role, the United Arab Emirates, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, rushed from the first moments to provide relief to our Palestinian brothers; It is considered one of the first countries to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and focused its efforts on treating the wounded and injured, providing urgent relief to affected families, and providing support to vital and important health sectors, as part of Operation "Gallant Knight 3", which is one of the largest relief operations in the Strip.

- UAE Field Hospital 

In a strategic move, the UAE established the UAE Field Hospital last year, which is still operating despite the ongoing military operations and risks in Rafah Governorate in Gaza. It includes multiple departments and specialized clinics to treat the wounded and injured, where 48,704 people have been treated.

- UAE Floating Hospital

The UAE sent a floating hospital to the port of Arish in the Arab Republic of Egypt, after equipping it with all the capabilities to receive Palestinian wounded and injured people, provide them with health care, and perform special surgeries, in addition to various outpatient clinics to receive patients daily, where 5,040 cases have been treated since its activation.

- Artificial Limbs Initiative

As part of its initiative to support the people of Gaza, the UAE presented the Artificial Limbs Initiative within "Operation Gallant Knight 3" to help the injured and meet the needs of amputees because of the war in the Gaza Strip.

The initiative aims to provide advanced artificial limbs for these cases, which contributes to improving the lives of those affected and enabling them to regain some of their ability to move and depend on themselves.

The initiative also includes providing psychological support and medical rehabilitation, which helps beneficiaries adapt to their new situation.

- Supporting the health sector

 The UAE played a pivotal role in supporting the damaged health sector in Gaza, and hospitals, most of which have stopped operating, by providing 736.25 tons of medical aid, including medicines, first aid, supplies and medical devices, in addition to contributing to the rehabilitation and expansion of hospitals and health centers that were damaged during the war.

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, the UAE launched an initiative to evacuate 1,000 children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip to the UAE, with the aim of providing them with specialized medical treatment; the support includes covering the costs of treatment and providing medicines and medical supplies, in addition to healthcare to alleviate their suffering, especially in light of the lack of medical capabilities.

The UAE also launched a polio vaccination campaign as part of its ongoing efforts to provide relief to the brotherly Palestinian people, especially children, in response to the difficult humanitarian conditions they are going through.

The campaign, which is being implemented in cooperation with the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNRWA, provides two doses of polio vaccine to more than 640,000 children in Gaza under the age of 10, to stop the spread of the virus and prevent the outbreak of the disease in the Strip.

- Strategic Transport

 The UAE sent humanitarian and medical aid by air, land and sea to the Gaza Strip in the most complex strategic transport operation that included 273 cargo planes, and 5 cargo ships loaded with humanitarian and medical aid, in addition to 6 ships from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip and brought 1,284 trucks into the Strip with a total of more than 34,000 tons.

- Operation Birds of Goodness

 The Joint Operations Command launched Operation "Birds of Goodness", which is being implemented by "C17" aircraft of the United Arab Emirates Air Force, to drop humanitarian aid on isolated areas that are not reached by aid in the Gaza Strip, where the number of drops so far has reached 53 drops and the total aid dropped is 3,623 tons of relief and humanitarian aid.

- Water projects

The UAE has established 6 desalination plants in the Egyptian city of Arish with a production capacity of two million gallons per day, which is pumped to the Gaza Strip and benefits more than one million people considering the severe shortage suffered by the population.

Despite the massive destruction, the UAE did not hesitate to provide emergency aid to municipalities and local authorities in the Gaza Strip, providing a group of water transport tanks, others for sewage, and basic equipment to the Coastal Municipalities Water Authority. 

The UAE has implemented projects to repair damaged water lines, wells, and destroyed networks in the Khan Yunis and North Gaza governorates, to facilitate access to water for residents in their residential areas and improve their living conditions.

This brings the number of aid convoys that entered the Strip, as part of "Operation Gallant Knight 3" to 141 convoys consisting of 1,243 trucks.

The UAE's journey of giving continues without borders.