UAE a shining beacon of humane ways

Give till it hurts, Mother Teresa once said. The UAE keeps on giving, but it doesn’t hurt. Where help and succour for the distressed and needy are concerned, the nation has hit the gold standard. It is one of the world’s top donors to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

May 8 marks World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. As Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), rightly said, ‘’The UAE has become a regional centre for support, supply and logistics in the field of emergency humanitarian relief, and a permanent headquarters for many international humanitarian organisations that have found in the Emirates the appropriate place to manage their relief operations in the neighbouring regions, thanks to the directives and support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,” he said in a message ahead of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2022.

The UAE is a haven of hope for those hit by crisis such as conflicts or natural disasters. It promptly delivers to ease suffering. The groundswell of compassion overflows to nations that are close such as Pakistan and Afghanistan or even those far away, like the Philippines or the Caribbean or even beleaguered Africa.

From its shores, relief convoys depart for various countries in the throes of adversity.

Sheikh Hamdan affirmed the UAE’s commitment to its distinguished humanitarian approach and its unique direction in promoting values and initiatives that alleviate human suffering and support human development efforts in developing and troubled societies.

Sheikh Hamdan noted that the UAE has become a favourite destination for forces for good in the world to launch their humanitarian initiatives in recognition of the UAE’s role in establishing purposeful and constructive partnerships to preserve human dignity and alleviate human suffering. Be it shortages of food, water or medicines, the UAE moves immediately to the rescue.

To illustrate. In early April, the United Arab Emirates sent a fifth plane carrying 30 metric tonnes of medical and relief supplies to Ukraine. This comes as part of providing urgent relief support to impacted civilians in Ukraine, and is in response to the international humanitarian appeal to support those who are displaced in Ukraine and the 4 million refugees in neighbouring countries.

Later, as part of its continued humanitarian efforts, the UAE sent a plane to Warsaw, Poland, carrying 50 tonnes of food items and ambulances with medical equipment as part of an ongoing relief air bridge established in March to meet the humanitarian needs of Ukrainian internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. It is in the frontline of efforts to provide food, medicines and other vital goods badly needed by countries in South Asia such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. It advocates key interests of the Muslim world.

Sheikh Hamdan recognised and stressed the important role of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the international arena despite the tremendous challenges, adding that the movement had gained rich experience in swift response and intervention during crises and disasters. ‘’For us in the ERC, the 8th of May is an occasion for self-assessment of our journey so as to move forward steadily and contribute in efforts to mobilise support for programmes and strengthen partnerships with all forces of the community in order to promote our values and principles and expand our humanitarian programmes locally and globally,’’ he added. ‘’We also seek more mobility and preparedness to quickly respond to disasters and human appeals everywhere,’’ Sheikh Hamdan concluded.