Sharjah: The first edition of the Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support has been presented to The Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF) from Yemen.
The award was given away by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, at a ceremony at Al Qasimia University in Sharjah.
The award is being organised by Sharjah's The Big Heart Foundation in collaboration with the UNHCR, and aims to recognise and pay tribute to those who have made distinguished humanitarian efforts to anyone seeking refugee and displaced families in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
Receiving the award from Shaikh Sultan was Asia Al Mashraqi, director of SDF.
Shaikh Sultan said humaniatarian work and the need to recoginse such efforts is needed more than ever in today's "world torn by conflict", especially in the Arab world, where multiple countries are facing a humanitarian crisis.
More than a third of the 65 million people globally forced to flee their homes are in the Middle East.
Al Mashraqi said the award will encourage SDF and other organisations to ramp up aid efforts and other forms of support for refugees.
Kelly T. Clements, UNHCR deputy high commissioner, said the UAE is at the forefront of the global response to humanitarian crises. She added that the award and the Year of Giving initiative of the UAE comes at a time when solidarity with refugees is deeply needed.
