Donate toys and make a difference

The Mother, Baby and Child Show Abu Dhabi calls on people to help make a difference by donating toys to autistic children.

Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 146 births. A simple donation of a toy, book or game at the Mother, Baby and Child Show (MBC) in Abu Dhabi, will help to brighten an autistic child’s life and help raise funds for the Gulf Autism Centre based in Abu Dhabi.

Children need toys and books to develop necessary motor skills, says the US National Institute for Early Education Research. Studies also show that infant toys are critical for brain growth that affects learning later in life and play is essential for all children to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives,.

Most children receive an abundance of gifts during birthdays and festive occasions, many of which get put away in a cupboard and never used. Encourage your child to share and re-gift one of their many presents or at least ask you children to donate toys they have outgrown, if those toys are in good condition or still in their original packaging.

“This year we also wanted to help make a difference to the lives of children in need, which is why we are launching our special donation drive for the Gulf Autism Centre, as well as our ongoing support to the Make a Wish Foundation.” says Shannon Norris, Events Director for TME, the organisers of the MBC Show:
People who wish to donate can drop off their toy donation at the Mother, Baby and Child Show which will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on 29-31 May 2008. As a way of saying thank you, parents will receive a free entry ticket per family.

Now in its second year in Abu Dhabi, the MBC show offers plenty of free advice as well as the latest in childcare products, goods and services for everyone from parents-to-be through to parents with children up to the age of eight.
“As well as parental and medical advice, there is plenty for children at the show including appearances from their favourite TV characters, entertainment, play areas, goodie bags and bundles of fun,” adds Norris.

“Other highlights this year include a Fashion Show by Babyshop, with clothes modeled by children from the Gulf Autism Centre. To celebrate our first birthday, children born between 29-31 May 2007 will also be invited to join us on stage for cake, games and gifts.”

The special draw at the show will offer a star prize of 2 return tickets to New Zealand courtesy of Air New Zealand, as well as many other fabulous prizes.

The Mother, Baby and Child Show Abu Dhabi is expected to attract 150 exhibitors this year. An impressive 15,000 visitors visited the show in 2007 and TME, the show organisers, are expecting a great turnout again this year. Sponsors of the event include: Fuji Film, Fine, Milupa, Air New Zealand, National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

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Dubai government to compensate Naif fire-affected traders

Dubai government will start in the few coming days the process of compensating traders at Naif market in Dubai affected by the fire that has broken out at the market .

Engineer Hussein Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai municipality, said " In line with Dubai government instructions, the municipalty will start compensating the fire-affected traders at Naif market, and will complete this process before the traders can move to the temporary market which will be completed in a two-month time.

In his press conference held Sunday , Lootah stressed that the compensation decision had been taken on the second day of the fire accident, pointing out that the new Naif Market, with modern specifications, would be completed before the end of this year. WAM

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" Your Child Is My Child, Let’s Protect His Future Now! "

Justice Without Frontiers, the coordinator of the Lebanese Coalition for the ICC, has launched a campaign, entitled, “Your Child Is My Child, Let’s Protect His Future Now,” dedicated to the Lebanese people, and particularly to the Lebanese children, who have been devastated, disfigured, burned, and killed by Israeli weapons.

Justice Without Frontiers invites and urges all national, regional and international NGOs, to participate and support this campaign and support Lebanon’s accession to the Rome statute for the ICC by signing a petition and forwarding it to others.

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Mohammed bin Rashid sets up Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation

Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, has issued a decree establishing the Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Foundation which was announced and launched in May, 2007 with an endowment of AED37 billion (USD10 billion).

According to the decree, the Foundation shall be managed by a 5-member board of directors, a chairman and a deputy chairman. A decree by the Ruler of Dubai shall appoint a 5-mambers of the board of directors, a chairman and a deputy-chairman for 3 years.

Sheikh Mohammed's recent decree authorizes the foundation's chairman of the board of directors to appoint the director of the executive body in an administrative decree. The director shall be authorized to appoint the body's staff members as per the effective relevant regulations.

As per the new decree, the Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation shall be financed by Sheikh Mohammed's endowment of AED 37 billions (USD10 billions) which was announced in May 2007 as well as benefits generated by investment of the endowment, grants and donations.

Sheikh Mohammed, announced the major initiative in a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum for the Middle East held in May 2007 at the Dead Sea, Jordan.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation aims to develop future leaders and create a knowledge-based society in the region through four key components of knowledge and education, culture, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. The Foundation has already launched several programmes to encourage Arab intellectual output and motivating aspiring young Arab writers.

The Foundation also aims to open doors for future generations of leaders of the region to shape their future by equipping them with world-class knowledge and education.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation will source and manage a wide range of initiatives including the establishment of high-quality research programmes and research centres and the provision of scholarships to students to attend leading universities and institutes. It will also support research in universities across the region. In addition, the Foundation will provide leadership programmes for youth in government, the private sector and in non-governmental organizations. Scholarships and research grants will also be given to authors and researchers in the region. WAM

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Dubai Bank Donates AED 1.1 million to MBRHCF

As part of its continued efforts to promote charitable and humanitarian activities, Dubai Bank, the fastest-growing ethical and Shari'a-compliant financial institution in the UAE, has recently delivered a cheque of AED 1,172 million to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Foundation.

The donation comes as part of a cooperation pact signed by the two institutions in November 2007, under which a banking account has been opened for supporting charity projects sponsored by the Foundation for the benefit of the largest possible number of the needy and disadvantaged.

Dubai Bank CEO Abdulaziz Al Muhairi delivered the cheque to Ibrahim Mohammed Bumelha, Deputy Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees at a meeting held at the Foundation's premises, with officials from the two institutions attending.

"Since its launch, Dubai Bank has been acting upon the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to encourage charitable work across the UAE", said Al Muhairi.

"We chose to work with this Foundation thanks to its track record and reputation for helping the needy and disadvantaged. At Dubai Bank we, as management and staff, feel a sense of fulfilment when we can put smiles on the faces of those who deserve this support, while at the same time continuing to make progress on our projects to the highest levels of customer satisfaction." Commenting on the occasion, Ibrahim Bumelha expressed the Foundation's deep satisfaction with the diligent humanitarian and charity efforts tirelessly exerted by the Dubai Bank.

"We deeply appreciate the social responsibility shouldered by Dubai Bank and we thank them for choosing our Foundation, which spares no efforts to upgrade its social services in a way that pleases God, our noble leadership and the citizens of the UAE," said Bumelha.

It is worth noting that Dubai Bank is implementing this year a series of corporate social responsibility initiatives with official institutions working in the field of charitable social activity, the first of which was a visit paid by the Bank to the Sharjah Autism Centre last month. (WAM)

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Human Development Report 2007-2008 released in Abu Dhabi

Minister of Environment and Water Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi reiterated UAE's commitment to the partnership with other countries of the world to face global economic and social challenges including the treat of climate change.

Al Kindi said that UAE will spare no effort to reduce the impacts of climate change in order to protect poor nations as well as the future of entire humanity from its consequences.
The minister made his remarks at a reception on Wednesday organised by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to release the Human Development Report (HDR) 2007-2008.
Al Kindi said that under the prudent leadership of President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his brother H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council members and rulers of emirates, UAE has always helped to solve the economic and social problems facing the humanity. This included assistance for building infrastructure, education, healthcare and housing. The total foreign assistance from UAE constituted over 3.6 percent of its Gross Domestic Product, GDP, noted Al Kindi. Source

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NATO hails UAE polices on boosting peace

Claudio Bisogniero, NATO Deputy Secretary General has lauded the UAE policies on bolstering peace and helping people in crisis, catastrophe and hunger hit areas.

He added in a meeting attended by Emirates News Agency(WAM) and the Arab media forum delegation at the NATO's headquarters in Brussels that the "UAE has registered positive attitudes in Afghanistan and Kosovo, where its forces played good role in restoring peace and stability".
Bisogniero highlighted the role of UAE in boosting regional and world peace through focusing on development in the poor countries and through sending aid to the needy worldwide.
He said he would visit the Arab and GCC countries, including the UAE early next year to continue dialogue in line with Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and Euro -Mediterranean Dialogue to build confidence, adding that the NATO continues to play fundamental role to restore stability and peace in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.
Bisogniero noted that the NATO also provides necessary assistance to Pakistan and Darfour to overcome crisis, which threaten the regional and international security.
He added that the NATO works to restore stability and security in Balkan and Afghanistan as per United Nations resolutions in cooperation with European Union and World Bank to support Muslim populations in these areas.
Bisogniero said that hundreds of officers from countries involved in the Euro-Medterranean dialogue took part in the NATO training programmes, adding that the NATO is currently active in fighting terrorism in the Mediterranean Sea basin by monitoring ships.
"Some countries in the region such as, Algeria and Morocco take part in the monitoring operations", he said, indicating that the NATO struck military deals with Egypt and Israel in October 2007 and is engaging other countries in the Euro Mediterranean dialogue. Source

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Dubai Government and 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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Khalifa charity to pay expat students’ fee in govt schools

Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charity Foundation has announced that it will bear the tuition fees of Emirati students studying in model schools as well as children of expatriates studying in government schools countrywide for the current academic year 2007-08.
The new initiative has been taken following directives of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Source

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Sheikha Maitha leaded the Dubai walkathon

More than 3,000 people from all walks of life participated in the International Fair and Walkathon led by Shaikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the Nad Al Sheba grounds yesterday as part of the Dubai Cares initiative.
Accompanying Shaikha Maitha was Ghada Shouaa, heptathlon gold medal winner in the 1996 Olympics.
The International Fair opened at 2pm and ran until 8pm, while registrations for the three-kilometre walkathon were open to the public until it commenced at 5pm.
“We had organised several inflatables and rides for the children while the adults enjoyed different foods during the fair,” said the organisers.

“I am going to walk alongside Shaikha Maitha because I think what she is doing for children is very important. “My parents told me that if I participated in the event, some child like me would get free education,” remarked seven-year-old Hrish Khanna before the walk started.
“Dubai Cares is a great initiative and one more reason for the world to appreciate the beauty of this city.
“I, personally, think that participating in this walkathon is very meaningful,” said Claire Behest, who participated in the walk along with her family.
The walkathon was organised by Dubai Sports Council while the fair was a Dubai Shopping Festival initiative. Over 100 volunteers from Dnata also took part in the event. Source

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Dubai Properties Donates Dh 60 Million to Dubai Cares

Dubai Properties, a member of Dubai Holding, has announced an Dh 60 Million donation to Dubai Cares, the campaign launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to help educate one million children in poor countries.

Commenting on the donation, Hashim Al Dabal, Chairman of Dubai Properties, said: "Dubai Cares presented an opportunity for us to deliver on our promise of shaping a bright future and to build on our contribution to the communities to which we belong, both locally and globally." He added: "The decision to support the campaign, therefore, was an easy one to make and one we made with confidence, knowing full well it will produce able partners throughout the world who will share our desire to build a better future. Essentially, with 'Dubai Cares' we are connecting with communities and nations, bringing one another closer together with a common purpose and ambition." 'Dubai Cares' is the latest in a line of international initiatives that express Dubai's willingness to play an effective role in securing a better tomorrow for future generations. The campaign is Dubai?s contribution to a global drive to help countries achieve their U.N. Millennium Development Goals of providing primary education to every child by 2015. Source

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Fair and walkathon on Oct. 19

Dubai Cares is also organising an International Fair and Walkathon on October 19, under the patronage of Shaikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at the Nad Al Sheba race track. The fair is scheduled from 2pm to 8pm and the walkathon will begin at 5pm.
Shaikha Maitha will participate in the walkathon alongside local celebrities, athletes and members of Dubai’s multicultural community.

Activities such as face-painting, henna tattoos, sand art and clay pot painting are being planned along with inflatable games, bungee, rodeo, trampoline, Space Ball, Robo Surf, electric cars for kids and a shooting gallery.
The fair will also include pony, horse and camel rides as well as entertainers like jugglers, stilt walkers, skirt dancers, sky dancers and balloon twisters, who will be displaying their talents throughout the fair.
Registration fees for the event will be Dh20 for children (18 years and below) and Dh50 for adults. All participants will receive a free Dubai Cares T-shirt. Source

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Dubai Islamic Bank donates Dh21 million to 'Dubai Cares'

The Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has donated Dh21 million to ‘Dubai Cares.’ The announcement was made by Saad Abdul Razzaq, Group Chief Executive Officer, at a meeting here on Sunday with Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“This contribution comes in response to the call of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to participate in this humanitarian effort,” Abdul Razzaq said.
The donation will be used to help build and operate 15 schools. Source

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Dubai Cares charity a brilliant success - UN

The mobilisation of more than $220 million (about Dh810 million) through Dubai's charity initiative Dubai Cares has been described as a "brilliant success" by a spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Referring to the $1 million pledged by Dubai Cares to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), a spokesman for Ban Ki-moon said the contribution will cover a large part of the emergency educational needs of the children of Nahr Al Bared refugee camp in Lebanon.
"UNRWA is delighted to have received a pledge of about $1 million from the Dubai Cares initiative," he told Gulf News in a statement.

"The final details are under discussion, but it is clear that this very welcome donation will take care of most, if not all, the education component of the Nahr Al Bared Camp Appeal."
A $55 million appeal for the camp was issued in September to meet the emergency needs of the affected population for twelve months.
Earlier this month, it was announced that 10,000 Palestinian children living in UNRWA refugee camps in northern Lebanon would be among the first recipients of funds generated through Dubai Cares.
"UNRWA hopes to strengthen further its relationship with Dubai Cares building on this first cooperation and the brilliant success of the initiative in raising more than $220 million for basic education of poor children around the world," the spokesman said. Source

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Dubai Municipality participates in Dubai Cares

Dubai Municipality will allocate the revenue of public parks during the Enid to Dubai cares which is initiated by Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum aiming at providing a million poor children all around the world with the basic education.

Engineer Hussein Nasser Lutah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality hailed this great humanitarian gesture of Sheikh Mohammed and said that the Municipality is keen to attract the public towards the public parks through organizing a number of entertainment programs in all public gardens in Dubai. Source

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Zakat Fund and Etisalat launch Zakat calculation service

UAE Zakat Fund and Etisalat have launched a new free service that helps Muslims calculate and pay their 'Zakat' amounts using their mobile phones.
The launch of the service follows an earlier Memorandum of Understanding signed by both organisations to work together to develop the service. The Zakat Fund has provided all the necessary information on how to calculate Zakat according to the principles of Islam.

It is the first time such a service is introduced anywhere in a Muslim country, and it comes as part of an intensive campaign ZF has initiated to create awareness among people about the obligatory nature of Zakat.
Secretary General of Zakat Fund Abdullah Bin Aqida Al Muhairi praised the role of people from ZF and Etisalat who teamed up to launch this unique service. Source

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Dubai World gives Dh260m for ‘Dubai Cares’

Dubai World has made the single largest contribution — worth Dh260 million — to the ‘Dubai Cares’ initiative launched earlier this month by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai World, announced this on Monday, saying it’s the corporate social responsibility of Dubai World to join this far-reaching project and play a key role in achieving its objectives. Bin Sulayem said, “We believe that as a responsible corporate house, it’s incumbent on Dubai World to do its best to support this noble cause.
The initiative announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed is as vast in its scope as it is far-reaching. Education, as His Highness has pointed out, is the key to break the cycle of poverty. We are proud to be a part of this project under which a million children in poor countries from across the world will be given a chance to receive a fulfilling education.”
The contribution from Dubai World for ‘Dubai Cares’ project includes donations of prime lands in major real estate developments by group companies Nakheel and Limitless.
Nakheel has set aside plots in its Dubai Waterfront (valued at Dh105 million), Al Furjan (worth Dh25 million), and The Palm Deira (Dh63 million), as well as setting aside a building at International City (Dh32 million). Limitless has also donated a plot of land in its Downtown Jebel Ali project (Dh35 million), bringing the value of land and property donated by Dubai World to Dh260 million.
The six-week long ‘Dubai Cares’ initiative, a charity drive launched during the holy month of Ramadan, seeks to shine the light of knowledge and dispel the darkness of ignorance by giving the children in poor countries hope for the future and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty, as Shaikh Mohammed stressed.
The campaign will also assist countries in achieving their UN millennium development goals for providing primary education to every child by 2015, because education is one of the most powerful instruments for laying the basis for sustained economic growth, sound governance and effective institutions. Source

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UAE president gives $10 million for Iraqi refugees

The president of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has donated $10 million to the United Nations to help Iraqi refugees in Syria, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.
UNHCR spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis said 60,000 Iraqis continue to flee their homes every month, with 2.2 million people now uprooted within Iraq and 2.2 million in neighbouring countries. Syria is host to more than 1.4 million Iraqis.
On Monday, the agency said that Syria had reimposed rules barring entry to Iraqi refugees. Pagonis said it would mean that they “lose their only remaining safe haven”, but the agency was discussing the issue with authorities in Damascus and had not received any formal notification.
“The Iraqis in Syria now constitute about 10 percent of the total population and put an enormous strain on the country,” she told a news briefing in announcing the $10 million donation.
She said it was “unusual” for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to receive a donation of that size for a single programme, and it was the largest gift from the UAE in 10 years.
The agency has been appealing widely for support for countries hosting Iraqis.
An estimated 19,800 Iraqis applied for asylum in North America, Europe and Australia in the first six months of 2007. 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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