Red Crescent in Dubai to help in rebuilding Gaza

Dubai: The Red Crescent in Dubai is reviewing a proposal to set a field hospital in the Egyptian city of Al Arish, which is close to the borders of the Gaza Strip, said a senior official.

In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Mohammad Al Zarouni the Manager of the Red Crescent Dubai branch, said that although they were not involved in any ground missions, the next step will see the rebuilding of hundreds of destroyed houses and the sponsorship of about 500 orphaned children.

The move is under the directive of the UAE leadership.

According to Al Zarouni, the Red Crescent was ordered by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to provide UN agencies based in the Gaza Strip with Dh80 million, following the Israeli attacks.

The agencies include United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), United Nation Children's Fund (Unicef), World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Red Crescent Society of Egypt.

Within three days after the start of the war, the organisation managed to fill-up 50 trucks with 360 tonnes of necessary medical and food items. However, following the Israeli strike on UNRWA base, which also housed supplies from the UAE Red Crescent, the agency had to halt its operations.

As reported in the media, UNRWA decided to temporarily suspend all its operations in the Gaza Strip because of the increasing hostility against its premise, convoys, and staff.

This also affected the items delivered from UAE and purchased from Egyptian local market for shipment as the Rafah crossing. "Heavy air strikes and ground offensive slowed down humanitarian operations," said Al Zarouni.

Upon launching their Gaza campaign, Al Zarouni said they received massive donations and support from the government and from the civil society, initially aiming to raise around Dh100 million.

But the response was overwhelming and they managed to raise Dh306 million, with the highest donation given by Dubai Islamic Bank, who gave Dh40 million.

"We received a lot of support from the public either through donations and/or service volunteering. Our mission is not yet complete as we are planning to rebuild the immensely destroyed infrastructure and to find additional routes to deliver our relief efforts," said Al Zarouni.

According to the official, upon the direct leadership of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Red Crescent will get involved in the rebuilding of over 600 houses. Red Crescent currently sponsors around 6,500 children in Gaza.