Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's initiatives are strongly supporting Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, said Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, and Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA).

Shaikh Hamdan noted that the UAE had scaled up its humanitarian operations to take care of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon thanks to instructions given by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Shaikh Hamdan said in a statement to mark the World Refugee Day, which falls on 20th June, that the UAE was placing issues of Syrian refugees at top of its priorities in commitment to its humanitarian responsibilities towards them and in implementation of aspirations of its leadership to ensure decent living for them.

He described the UAE-Jordanian ‘Mrejib Al Fhood’ Camp for Syrian Refugees as a bright example of care and services that should be provided to refugees at such critical circumstances.

The UAE, he affirmed, would spare no effort to meet humanitarian needs of all Syrian refugees. He said: “Escalating situation in Syria is forcing more people to flee the horrific events, placing additional responsibility on relief operations.”

Shaikh Hamdan warned that as long as the Syrian crisis drags on more influx of refugees will pour into neighbouring countries, which are bearing the large brunt of hosting those refugees.

Shaikh Hamdan thanked the government and people of Jordan for warmly welcoming thousands of Syrian refugees and appealed to major international donors and regional and international relief

organisations to donate generously in support of efforts of hosting countries so as to be able to provide refugees with their requirements.

He praised the 'Mrejib Al Fhood' Camp for Syrian Refugees as a remarkable experiment for UAE-Jordan cooperation and partnership in sheltering and caring for refugees.

The UAE role, he affirmed, had gone beyond delivery of support and assistance to mobilising international community support for the Syrian refugees.

He went on to say that the UAE-UK had launched a joint project to improve educational services to Syrian refugees in the camp.

The British sponsored educational project in the camp, which includes among its many facilities two K-12 schools, and allocated a budget of Dh 10 million that will be spent, through the UNICEF, towards providing vital school kits and supplies and teachers to around 6,250 students in the camp.

Shaikh Hamdan stressed the UAE commitment to its humanitarian stances towards refugees across the world. “The UAE will remain the protective shield for refugees from the harsh repercussions of refuge, and the strong supporter for alleviating their aggravating suffering and for preserving their human dignity.”

Shaikh Hamdan voiced the UAE's concern at the increasingly deteriorating conditions of refugees around the world. “'What refugees are going through because of their exceptional circumstances requires mobilisation of international efforts and enhancement of partnership among international relief agencies to improve their living conditions and address their pressing issues,” he said.

He also referred to the tremendous effort the RCA is making to provide protection and care to refugees from perils of disease, poverty and homelessness.

The RCA, he noted, had done very well in establishing and operating several refugee camps it launched in flash points.

Shaikh Hamdan also lauded the constructive partnership between the RCA and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) which he said had eased suffering of refugees.