The royals ordered the delivery of emergency supplies to Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar.
It’s the Year of Giving here in the UAE, and one person more than embracing the annual theme is HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has already ordered the delivery of foreign aid to South Sudan, Madagascar and Somalia (to name just a few) this year – and now another 300 tonnes of emergency supplies are en route to those in need.
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The royal this week ordered the delivery of additional aid to Rohingya Muslim refugees, who have sought shelter in neighbouring Bangladesh after fleeing conflict in Myanmar.
Around 420,000 men, women and children have left their homeland for refugee camps in the last month, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
The UAE is hoping to provide them with essentials in the airlift, as a B747 makes three trips to Bangladesh loaded with tarpaulins, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, blankets and more.
The deliveries, which have been co-ordinated through Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, are estimated to help nearly 7,620 refugee families.
The first of the three airlifts is set to land in Dhaka today, with further deliveries arranged for October 2 and October 11.
“The plight of Rohingya is appalling and shocking,” said HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, chairperson of IHC.
“We hope our contribution to these refugees will help to alleviate their suffering.”
Sheikh Mohammed first sent Dhs2.7 million of aid to Bangladeshi refugee camps just last week to help “alleviate suffering”.
.@HHShkMohd orders urgent aid to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in support of UNHCR’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of the refugees pic.twitter.com/PMSW7Be8GB
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 12, 2017
Indeed, the UAE is no stranger to foreign aid, and was even ranked as the biggest donor in the world in 2014.
The Emirates has also been declared a top foreign aid donor of 2016, with an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report stating the UAE gave Dh15.23 billion in official development assistance last year.
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“The UAE does not provide conditional assistance and does not wait for any returns. We only want the good and stability of all people,” said Sheikh Mohammed when the report was released.
Princess Haya also addressed the UAE’s generosity in a speech earlier this year, adding that the nation’s contributions would continue.
“The UAE gave Dhs32 billion in aid [in 2015],” the royal said. “The UAE will continue in line with the Year of Giving to be one of the most humanitarian countries in the world.
“The goal of our leadership is clear, which is to build a future city of security and humanitarian. It is our responsibility, it is our humanity that future generations will hold us accountable for.”
Images: Dubai Media Office, Getty
