UAE | General
Rushing in to help, every time
It was back in 1982 when a small group of Emiratis offered to help drought victims in Sudan and Eritrea while another team set off to assist earthquake victims in Yemen.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:10 February 19, 2009
- An old man and infirm Palestinian avails medical attention thanks to the UAE-RC medical aid programme.
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
Dubai: It was back in 1982 when a small group of Emiratis offered to help drought victims in Sudan and Eritrea while another team set off to assist earthquake victims in Yemen.
The humanitarian activities of these volunteers was formally acknowledged with the formation of the UAE-Red Crescent (UAE-RC), which was incorporated on January 31, 1983.
The UAE-RC soon made a name for itself, stepping in to combat a severe outbreak of cholera in Somalia and Mauritania in 1984, an operation that lasted two years. It was recognised as the 139th member of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies in August, 1986.
That year also saw Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Foreign Aid Coordination Committee, being named chairman of the board of directors for the UAE-RC. In 1996, Shaikh Hamdan became the UAE-RC president.
In 1997, the role of the UAE-RC was enhanced significantly when Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, supreme chairperson of the Family Development Foundation, and chairperson of the UAE General Women's Union, became the honorary chairperson and president of the UAE-RC.
As a group, the UAE-RC started responding to appeals issued by the IFRC and other international organisations to assist countries in need.
Shaikh Hamdan couldn't have said it any better when he described the UAE-RC as "a satellite channel for humanity and environment."
By 2001, the UAE-RC had come to be known as the second best humanitarian organisation in Asia, a testament to its reassuring presence both externally and internally during calamities and crises.
A dedicated volunteer group at the UAE-RC specialises in conducting training programmes that have greatly helped charity activities locally and abroad; today the UAE-RC stands as one of the best organised and fastest mobilising charity organisations in the region
"The world currently requires our urgent humanitarian assistance and, despite [the] various challenges we face, we continue to offer aid, support and effort. We work closely with the 168 Red Crescent branches worldwide and unite in offering our help when needed nationally and internationally," Ahmad Yousuf Al Suwaidi, UAE-RC general-secretary, told Gulf News.
More recently, the UAE-RC has also become adept at offering healthcare assistance to the injured and wounded in conflict zones.
This was evident during the war in Iraq, when 55 Iraqi children were transferred to the UAE for medical treatment.
Another recent example was when the UAE-RC collected Dh10 million in financial assistance and also sent 50 trucks with 300 tonnes of aid in the form of food, flour, blankets, first aid kits and various other necessities to the victims of the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
Your comments
What I feel is that the public needs to be given some kind of awareness as to how we can help the victims. Thanks to the authorities in the UAE who are doing a great job.
Mathew Litty
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 16:12
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- Appeals court acquits gardener of rape charge
- Woman injured in fall from balcony
- Hypertension affecting 36% of UAE population
- Suspects deny charges of trafficking and assault
- Space experience awaits students at US camp
- Friendship festival loses steam due to lack of sponsors
- Reader helps police to bust brothel
- Ministries to help cut waistlines in schools
- Mohammad receives Iceland's president
- Rare wild cat discovered in Fujairah wadi
- Faded signage fails to guide visitors
- Tory chief vows to bolster ties with the UAE
- Gang who robbed Dh1m from businessman nabbed
- Chinese duo held for assault, blackmail
- Khalifa revamps border affairs council
Community Reports
-
Faded signage fails to guide visitors
Reader seeks better upkeep of signboards in green areas
-
Noise pollution must be regulated
Residents are finding it difficult to sleep well at night owing to ongoing construction work
-
Protect our children's health
Dust and dirt from a nearby road are causing problems to those frequenting Al Nasseriya park, Sharjah.
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
