Abu Dhabi: Cholera vaccines for thousands of Yemeni people were given to the representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as part of a UAE health care programme to provide vaccinations to 700,000 women and children, officials said on Thursday.
The UAE has teamed up with WHO to restore 20 hospitals at a cost of Dh44.1 million in nine governorates in Yemen to provide health care to 2.3 million Yemenis.
The Dh50.5 million scheme also includes providing preventive shots to as many as 700,000 women and children in 11 governorates.
Dr Mohammad Kallis, WHO representative in Aden, praised the quick response of the UAE, which he said will help prevent the spread of cholera in Yemen.
“The aid to Yemen underlines the continuous support provided by the UAE to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and to strengthen their resilience to face the difficult circumstances they were enduring,” said Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent.
The UAE is at the forefront of countries sending relief to Yemen offering Dh4.34 billion in foreign aid to the war-torn country from April 2015 to July 2016 as part of its humanitarian and development aid to support the Yemeni people and its ongoing efforts to lay down the foundations for development, security, stability and peace in Yemen.
Aid for different sectors
The UAE has provided Dh210.1 million to the health sector with an emphasis on the reconstruction of health facilities, including Al Jomhury Hospital, 22 May Hospital, 17 clinics, a mobile hospital and 19 ambulances.
As many as 1,500 Yemenis injured in their country’s war were taken for treatment to hospitals in the UAE, Sudan and India by the Emirates Red Crescent.
The Emirates Red Crescent also distributed stationery, supplies and bags to schoolchildren in the southern city of Al Mukalla.
Troops from the UAE and Saudi Arabia retook the Al Qaida-held city of Al Mukalla in April.
Some 212 schools — including 144 in Aden — were rebuilt and renovated in different governorates, while 32 schools were renovated in Socotra.
A total assistance of Dh160.1 million was allocated to the educational sector to provide stationery, supplies and bags.
Food bags were also distributed to some 3,800 out of 14,000 households planned to receive assistance in the Fowa area of Al Mukalla.
The UAE also funded restoring of and providing medical equipment and supplies to artificial limb service centres, a kidney dialysis unit, a maternity centre and two centres for people with special needs and a mobile clinic.
A breakdown of UAE foreign aid to Yemen by sector from April 2015 to July 2016 showed that humanitarian aid and emergency relief stood at Dh1.48 billion, representing 34.2 per cent of the total UAE foreign aid to Yemen.
Food and medicine: The UAE sent more than 160,000 tonnes of food material and more than 111,000 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies in addition to delivering ambulances and medical equipment.
Some 135 tonnes of food and non-food items and shelter materials were airlifted to relieve people affected by cyclones Chapala and Meg which hit the Yemeni island of Socotra and southern coast of Yemen in November 2015.
Energy and electricity: Yemen received Dh2.85 billion, of which Dh800.9 million was earmarked for energy and electricity sectors, where the UAE bore the operational expenses of energy generation and supply.
Fuel and gas for power generation plants were supplied. Local companies were contracted to operate and maintain these facilities in a number of governorates including Aden.
Five power generation stations were built, including two new ones in the governorate of Aden.
The UAE also supplied diesel, fuel and petrol for power stations, hospitals, schools and public institutions in a number of governorates.
