IRCS presents gold medal to Hamdan bin Zayed

The Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has presented a gold medal to Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA).

The medal was presented in appreciation for the massive aid extended by the RCA that helped to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people.

The medal was announced here yesterday in a meeting between the visiting RCA delegation led by Sanaa Darwish Al Kutbi, the RCA Secretary General, and Dr Jamal Nasser Al Karbouli, Chairman of the IRCS.

In a statement following the meeting, Al Karbouli expressed thanks to Sheikh Hamdan for the support he extended to the Iraqi people through the RCA, both before and after the war. He said this is the first time that the medal has been conferred on any person since the IRCS came into being in 1943.

He said the medal is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field of humanitarian works. He said Sheikh Hamdan deserves this honour as the RCA under his chairmanship has travelled extensively in Iraq, distributing relief under difficult conditions.

Al Kutbi said the persistent follow-up made by Sheikh Hamdan has made the relief operations in Iraq a success. She said the RCA, on the orders of Sheikh Hamdan, was the first international humanitarian organisation to set foot in Iraq.

She said the UAE's efforts have always been acknowledged by the Iraqi people, who have expressed their love and gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for responding to their plight.

Meanwhile, the RCA delegation in Iraq held yesterday a press conference to explain its future programmes and plans in Iraq.

Dr Salih Al Tai, Director of the RCA Relief and Emergency, said the RCA implemented many projects in a relatively short period, including the Zayed Hospital in Baghdad, which receives not less than 1,500 patients per day.

He said the RCA has provided generators to Al Mansour Hospital in Baghdad, and is planning to install a generator which will produce power for a quarter of Baghdad residents.