Middle East 5
Showing posts with label Poverty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poverty. Show all posts

UN told UAE committed to human rights

The UAE has reiterated its commitment to all international human rights agreements and cited the country’s recent promulgation of a number of laws to protect the human rights of UAE nationals and expatriates in the country.
In her address on Monday to the 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly during the 62nd session to discuss a social development item, Ayesha Ali Al Mansoori, member of the UAE delegation, said the social situation of more than half of the population of the world continues to lack the basic requirements of living with dignity.
“Poverty, diseases, unemployment, illiteracy, organised crime and armed conflicts still form major challenges to the achievement of our aspirations to create a human society where people enjoy security, stability and prosperity. In this regard, and as we commend the efforts made by the UN and its organs in the area of social development in its multifaceted aspects, urge for doubling international efforts to implement the outcome of conferences on social development in order to fulfil our peoples aspirations to create a safe human society fit for all,” she stated.

She said the UAE continues to fulfil its commitments to achieve the hoped-for social development and enhance the standard of living for human beings on both national and global level, through the dedication of needed financial and human resources, and effective contribution in the global partnership to create a human society where individuals enjoy peace, security and prosperity.
“The latest demonstration of this commitment was recently manifested by launching the Dubai Cares to provide in its first stage primary education for more than one million children across the world, especially in Asia and Africa, as a major step to eradicate poverty,” she noted.
She pointed out that the UAE, on the national level, had launched this year a government strategy which is the first binding business process re-engineering program for governmental performance.
She said the strategy has its core focus on ensuring country wide sustainable development and a high quality of life for the population, in line with the United Nations efforts to promote human development, adding that to achieve the above mentioned goals, the UAE government had provided free education at all levels including higher education universities, colleges, and technical institutes, in order to prepare young men and women for professions and jobs to meet the demands of the national development plans.
“In the mean time, officials developed and updated schools’ curriculums to meet the changing needs of the labour market while deepening the role of higher educational institutes in fulfilling the needs of the society.
“National mechanisms were established to develop human resources and coordinate between the requirements of development, the work market and human resources,” she explained.
She also pointed out that the UAE continues to work to enhance health services to an international standard and had succeeded in lowering infant mortality and postpartum deaths to lowest levels, according to international standards.
“We also succeeded in eliminating a number of dangerous diseases, such as polio and malaria and limiting the spread of HIV to a very small number with no new cases since the discovery of the disease,” she stated.
On general economic indices, she said the UAE had achieved noticeable progress in almost all development indices which was reflected on all aspects of human development in the society such as reflected in the continuing growth of income per capita, and the increase in the government expenditure on education, health, social services and social security programmes.
“This was accompanied with a high enrolment rate in elementary schools reaching 87 for both sexes a quick decrease in illiteracy rates and a growing rate of women’s participation in the work force and decision making process.
“Women now represent 22.4 of the work force in all sectors and during the last two years, two women were assigned as ministers for both ministries of economy and planning and social affairs,” she noted.
Touching on her country’s commitment to the principles of international human laws, she said the UAE had issued in recent time new laws to protect the human rights of both the nationals and expatriates in the country. “Some of these laws are related to children jockeys, human trafficking and working hours for labourers and domestic helpers.’’ Source

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People pledge to remove poverty

About 86, 179 people across schools, labour camps, banks, private sector, NGOs and corporate organisations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Al Ain stood up and pledged yesterday against poverty and inequality.
They joined Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the ‘Stand Up and Speak Out’ campaign in the four emirates, joining millions in urging their governments to remove poverty. The UN recognises October 17 as World Poverty Eradication Day.

Dr Khaled Alloush, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in the UAE, said, “In the UAE, many initiatives have been taken to reduce poverty globally. The Dubai Cares campaign is an exemplary campaign and this is an effort we appreciate.” He also lauded the role of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, UN Goodwill Ambassador and Chairperson of the International Humanitarian City, and wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Source

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UAE launches new medical charity campaign to assist poor patients

A group of UAE volunteer doctors have launched the first-ever national initiative to provide medical assistance to underprivileged patients in a number of sisterly and friendly countries.
Dr. Adel Al Shamri, a reputed UAE cardiologist and Chairman of the Emirates World Heart Group (EWHG), said the new ''Giving Hand'' medical charity campaign will target poor patients in a number of sisterly and friendly countries.
''The campaign, a public-private medical partnership, will deliver medical assistance and care to poor patients in a host of specialisations ranging from eye,ear, general surgery, community and family medicine and emergency and disasters,'he added.
''The Giving Hand initiative was launched to enhance the voluntary path the EWHG adopts and follow the charitable and humanitarian approach of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in extending assistance to sisterly and friendly countries at times of ordeals, he added.
He praised President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his great support for national cadre and humanitarian and charity works. He also commended the overwhelming and honourable response shown by the national doctors to the charity drive. Source

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Dubai Government & Corporations give US $10 Million to fight hunger

The United Nations World Food Programme today welcomed a generous US$10 million donation from the Government of Dubai and three leading UAE corporations.
In a letter sent to WFP by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, HH voiced hope that this contribution would be a “milestone in our relationship and signal a new, strengthened partnership to benefit those who suffer from poverty and to meet the needs of the hungriest people.”

The Government of Dubai is providing US$5 million to assist WFP’s worldwide Depots for humanitarian supplies. The Emirate has been very supportive of international humanitarian efforts and has served as a logistical hub for many big humanitarian operations over the past few years.
WFP has a support office in Dubai, which has evolved into one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergency support and fast intervention bases, aiming at providing aid fast, safe and cost-effective. WFP and other humanitarian agencies makes full use of the central geographical location of Dubai, the country’s expanding suppliers’ base, as well as the wide range of competitive air and sea freight services. WFP and other humanitarian agencies are based in Dubai’s International Humanitarian City.
Dubai will also host one of five international humanitarian depots that are planned by WFP to cope with the magnitude and growing number of emergencies in recent years.
“We are very thankful for the generous donations from the Government of Dubai,” said WFP Executive Director James Morris, who is in the UAE today to meet with senior officials. “This donation will give an enormous boost to our ability to deliver urgent help to thousands of desperate people affected by crises -- quickly and effectively.”
Three Dubai-based corporations are also donating another US$5 million to support WFP logistics capacity to cope with humanitarian emergencies. The three Dubai corporations are Dubai Holding (US$2 million), Nakheel (US$2 million), and Emaar Properties (US$1 million).
In letters sent to WFP, the three giant corporations noted WFP’s “outstanding” logistical achievements in response to the South-East Asian earthquake and the conflict in Lebanon.
WFP is the UN frontline agency fighting hunger. It also provides logistics support to all other humanitarian agencies in major emergencies such as the recent conflict in Lebanon this year and the devastating earthquake in Kashmir last year.
Prompted by the magnitude and growing number of emergencies in recent years, WFP has launched a new humanitarian response “Network”, with strategic hubs in Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Latin America. The Network is designed to meet the escalating challenges of sudden humanitarian emergencies which can sometimes strike almost simultaneously.
One of the Depots will be based in Dubai, where WFP already has a fast intervention team for information technology and telecommunications to support aid agencies in emergencies.
“This strong commitment by the private sector in Dubai to the critical global social issue of fighting hunger is very welcome and sets an example for other corporations within and outside the Middle East to follow,” said Morris.
WFP fully depends on voluntary donations, mainly by governments, but is aspiring to have more support from the private sector worldwide. This year so far, WFP has raised over US$2.4 billion including nearly US$40 million from private donors. Source

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Sleeping On The Streets

Hundreds of illegal workers are sleeping in gardens and on benches in Satwa and Deira.
Some hold passports, while others have obtained emergency certificates in lieu of passports. Their hopes of making it home rest on getting free air tickets.
An estimated 1,000 workers from Andhra Pradesh, India stay in Satwa.
These workers were disappointed that Andhra Pradesh Minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir who was recently in the UAE with a delegation to facilitate the return of illegal workers home, had not visited them to understand their plight.
"Some of us tried to meet him during his visit to the India Club in Dubai but we were barred from entry," they said.

In Deira’s Al Muteena Road, homeless illegals gathering inside the fenced palm grove is a nightly sight on the road next to the Sheraton Deira hotel. With tears welling in their eyes and clothes that reek of toil and sweat, they come with sad tales, hoping to be helped. Sweating through the summer nights, they still manage to catch some sleep.
Lying down on the benches, end to end, one’s head next to someone else’s feet, they try to get a good night’s rest for another day of struggle. Others can be found lying on the wet grass or the cement.
Most of these people are illegal residents who are stuck here without decent housing, adequate income or healthcare.
Bashir, 29, from India, last slept in a bed seven months ago. He came to Dubai to work in a cleaning company but ran away after a dispute with his employer.
He spends the day wandering Dubai’s streets. At night he heads to Al Muteena to sleep on the hard wooden benches.
"Sometimes I can work per hour, and earn enough for a meal a day," he said. "I am fasting, and at iftar I go to the mosque as I can get food to break my fast."
Bashir is excited to be going back to his country after receiving amnesty.
Ravi, 31, a father of two, left India and came to work as a domestic worker in Dubai but has been living on the street for three years.
He said: "Even if I get sick I can’t get treatment but am awaiting God’s mercy. Although I am treated as an absconding worker, sometimes I can find a job on daily wages, though often I stay the whole day lying on the grass with no work."
As his eyes filled with tears he added: "I am so happy that I am going back to my country to see my children without being penalised under the amnesty decision."
Mohammad, a Lebanese waiter at one of the restaurants in Al Muteena, said: "You can see these homeless people sleeping in the garden every day of the year. They always come and ask for food or money or, if we let them, work for a daily wage."
Meanwhile in Satwa, locked out of their rooms for defaulting on rents, as many as 750 workers sleep in a public garden and the parking lot next to the bus stand.
"Just 25 per cent of us hold jobs and can afford rooms on rent," said Prabhakar, who worked at various construction sites on daily wages till two months ago.
"Since we applied for amnesty and got our visa cancellations, most of us have not got work and therefore have no money to pay rents," said Rajaiah, adding that the caretaker of tenements there had locked the accommodation with their clothes and other belongings inside.
"He will not release them unless we pay rent arrears," he said. The workers have had to wear the same clothes and borrow some from those who still hold jobs, he said.
According to Dr Shashikala, Director of Al Misbah Medical Centre at Karama, at least 100 of these workers are very weak due to lack of food and need to go home soon for treatment and to be reunited with their families.
Young Boys Target Amnesty Seekers
"We are easy targets for boys in Satwa who harass us by snatching our mobile phones or other belongings or bursting firecrackers to disturb our sleep," said Tirupati M. Nagraj and Rajaiah Achakayla, from Andhra Pradesh, India.
Balraj, a helper at a construction site, said there were several instances of workers being assaulted in Satwa’s lanes by young school drop-outs looking for money.
"Dubai Police have responded swiftly to our complaints but these boys have managed to run away whenever police patrols come," he said.
"They know that we are returning home and target us as we are not in a mood to retaliate in our present condition," added Tirupati.
Money And Home Lost To A Con Artist
Indian Gangapani, 50, sobbed while telling his story: "I was working legally with a contracting company in Dubai and had decent housing in Sonapur and no problem with my employer - but I have incurred a huge debt of Dh70,000 that I can’t pay.
"Someone promised me that he could arrange residence visas for my friends for an amount of money. I collected the money and gave it to that person, but he has disappeared and I became homeless, chased by my friends and the police."
Gangapani doesn’t dare apply for an outpass because he is sure he will land in jail. Source

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