Aid for Pakistan: UAE residents respond to RCA appeal
The humanitarian call to help the flood victims in Pakistan has been heard by UAE residents, who have generously donated millions of dirhams
Abu Dhabi: The humanitarian call to help the flood victims in Pakistan has been heard by UAE residents, who have generously donated millions of dirhams.
The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) is working closely with the international community and the Pakistani Red Crescent to co-ordinate the distribution of the vital food, water, shelter and medical supplies.
However the logistics of distributing the aid remains one of the biggest challenges to bringing relief to the people of Pakistan, as large portions of the country remain under water.
UAE Red Crescent Authority Deputy Secretary General, Dr Saleh M Al Tai, told Gulf News: "Once the whole amount is received, the UAE RCA in coordination with the Pakistani Red Crescent and the UAE Armed Forces division in Pakistan will put a plan to help the flood victims."
"The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) is not affiliated with politically motivated organisations or those with special interests," Dr Al Tai said. "It exerts significant efforts to ensure that support reaches the needy directly without any intermediaries. The RCA is working with the Red Crescent in Pakistan and with the Unicef(United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) with whom they have signed a memorandum of co-operation.
"They also work with other international organisations like the World Health Organisation. All donations and collected funds are legally, properly, and transparently distributed as per set priorities.
"These funds will help reduce the suffering of Pakistanis who have been impacted by the floods. While significant efforts have been exerted to help the thousands of homeless children, much more needs to be done to provide medicine, drinkable water, and shelter for the thousands of families who remain without, and vaccines to minimise the spread of diseases, especially among children. Hunger is becoming a serious problem as many people still do not have access to primary nutritious foods or tools for cooking. The RCA is working diligently to access these people and provide them with a necessary survival kit," Dr Al Tai said.
"Awnakom" campaign raised Dh72 million
The local community responded generously to the telethon organised to rally for donations to help and ease the suffering of the millions affected by the Pakistan floods.
The UAE Red Crescent Authority led the relief efforts with its "Awnakom" (your help) campaign, which was aired on 10 television stations.
The campaign was under the direction of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Many across the UAE responded quickly by donating as much as they could afford. Children, adults, and companies contributed.
The pledges poured in without ceasing, and donations reached Dh25 million on the first day, Dh43 million on the second day, and grew to Dh72 million on the third day.
The telethon, which had been scheduled for three days, was extended for another three days from Saturday.
While Abu Dhabi TV news centre director Abdul Rahim Al Bateeh said the viewers' response to the campaign was impressive and went beyond expectations, Social Affairs Minister Mariam Al Roumi said more could have been donated.
"People's contribution should have been more generous, especially that the campaign is taking place in the holy month of Ramadan when charity is a major pillar of the month," she said.
