UAE’s Ramadan project to provide water to 5 million

[Al Bhatti]

25 June 2014

UAE’s Ramadan project to provide water to 5 million

The initiative will be implemented through digging wells, provision of water pumps and water purification equipment to the needy areas.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the ‘UAE Suqia’ Initiative to provide clean water to five million people worldwide.

The initiative will be implemented through digging wells, provision of water pumps and water purification equipment to the needy areas. The campaign will start in the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

While launching the initiative, Shaikh Mohammed said: “As usual in the UAE, we receive this holy month with charitable initiatives to support underprivileged people. No doubt Emiratis are sons of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and always ready to support the needy people.”

“We will not stop launching humanitarian initiatives every year, since the UAE has an established charitable work. And we will continue following the legacy of the founding fathers,” he added.

“In our country, water is a great blessing. Our ancestors had been deprived of water, thus they knew its value, and nowadays those specialised in water projects know that a huge part of our financial resources is allocated to water purposes,” he added.

Shaikh Mohammed presided over the first session of the Organising Committee of the Initiative at the Executive Office in the presence of Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai

Shaikh Mohammed emphasised the importance of directing the committee to work in the areas, where water is scarce in coordination with competent international organisations, the Red Crescent Authority (RCA), and the UAE embassies abroad.

He underscored the importance of cooperation of media to reflect Emirati national and humanitarian spirit, and instill it in the hearts of the youth.

UAE Suqia Campaign aims to provide clean water to five million people worldwide in cooperation with the RCA and other charity organistaions nationwide, as well as private sector and media.

Among those who attended the meeting were Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the UAE Suqia Initiative, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, and other officials.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/...ne/ramadannews_June32.xml&section=ramadannews

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June 25, 2014

UAE spends more than Dh1 billion on water projects

UAE spends more than Dh1 billion on water, public health and sewerage projects in 61 countries from 2009-2013

UAE’s water foreign aid was estimated at Dh1.01 billion to ensure water supplies in 61 countries during the period from 2009-13.

The Ministry of Development and International Cooperation released a report on water projects implemented in 61 countries to provide access to water for underprivileged people.

The report was released on Wednesday to coincide with the UAE Water Aid campaign launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide clean drinking water to five million people worldwide.

According to the report, the UAE provided Dh494.5 million to ensure clean drinking water supplies, with Afghanistan ranked first on the list of countries that benefited from aid with Dh231 million, followed by Lebanon (Dh64.6), Pakistan Dh38.8 million, and finally Somalia Dh35 million.

The UAE also provided Dh352 million in aid to develop river basins, where Sudan came first with Dh152.3 million, followed by Yemen (Dh72.7 million), Morocco (Dh44.7 million) and Tunisia Dh20 million.

On developing infrastructure for maritime transport, the UAE provided Dh53 million in different countries, where Pakistan came first with Dh22.8 million, followed by Egypt (Dh15.9 million), and Armenia (Dh13.8 million).


The report shows that the total foreign aid spending on major public health systems was estimated at Dh21.62 millionand basic hygiene 11.3 million and Dh153 million on drinking water and sewerage systems.

UAE spends more than Dh1 billion on water projects | GulfNews.com

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 28, 2014

UAE Water Aid campaign kicks off
As little as Dh25 donation can help change lives of people this Ramadan

Every 21 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease. As little as Dh25 from you can help reverse this.

The UAE aims to help prevent deaths caused by unsafe drinking water through a nationwide campaign called the UAE Water Aid (UAE Suquia) launched on Saturday.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the campaign coinciding with Ramadan to give more than five million people worldwide access to fresh drinking water.

Emirates Red Crescent will implement the project in areas badly in need of water so they can have their own wells, water pumps, and water purification equipment.

“We are determined to plant a seed of goodness in every place around the world, as the legacy of the UAE to humanity,” Shaikh Mohammad tweeted about the campaign last week.
“Charitable initiatives during Ramadan remind us that the UAE was built upon the eternal principle of doing good in the world,” his other tweet read.

Preparatory work for the digging of wells started on Saturday in 10 countries, namely, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Niger, Somalia, Ghana, Sudan, Indonesia, Togo, and Iraq, according to Mohammad Abdullah Al Haj Al Zarouni, head of the Emirates Red Crescent’s Dubai branch.

“This is just part of the initial phase of the campaign. Work is expected to be completed within 15 days,” Al Zarouni told Gulf News.

“We also started digging four big wells in Arbil in Kurdistan, in northern Iraq, that will provide water to 100,000 people. This is very important to help the refugees that are coming to the area.”

Al Zarouni declined to give a total target amount for the campaign since costs to dig wells and provide fresh drinking water vary from country to country, ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh130,000 each. But he estimated that an average well that could help 4,000 people would cost about Dh25,000.

“The cost varies since in some places the water table could be very deep. What is important is anyone in the UAE who wants to help can [start with] Dh25,” Al Zarouni said.

Many government and private sector organisations will work together to ensure the success of the campaign.

Telecommunication giants etisalat and du each donated Dh2.5 million on Saturday that will provide drinking water to a total of 200,000 people. Etisalat said it will encourage its subscribers to donate to the campaign by sending them text messages on how to help.

Al Ansari Exchange on Saturday also pledged its strong support to the campaign by donating Dh1 million.

Al Zarouni said apart from digging wells in villages that badly need water, tanks will also be installed to collect water in places where water is readily available but is not collected properly. The campaign will also install pipelines in villages to distribute water efficiently.

Most importantly, water treatment plants will be built during the last phase of the campaign.

Al Zarouni said Masdar will also help install solar panels to harness energy in areas where there is no electricity in order to operate the water pumps and treatment plants.

Some 748 million people or nine per cent of the global population continue to rely on unimproved drinking water sources according to a UN report called ‘Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation 2014 Update’. The same report stated more than one-third of the global population – some 2.5 billion people — do not use an improved sanitation facility.

Between 2009 and 2013, the UAE’s total foreign aid related to water problems totalled Dh1.01 billion through various projects in 61 countries around the world, a report of the Ministry of Development and International Cooperation said.


In numbers
- Every 21 seconds, a child dies from a water-related illness

- Women spend 200 million hours a day collecting water

- 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation

- 1.1 billion still practise open defecation

Source: www.water.org

UAE Water Aid campaign kicks off | GulfNews.com

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 28, 2014

Dubai Customs Ramadan campaign to drill one well a day for world’s poor

A Ramadan campaign aims to bring fresh water to impoverished people in Africa and Asia by drilling 30 wells — one for each day of the holy month.

The Dubai Customs project whas been launched alongside the UAE Suqia Water Aid initiative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, director of Dubai Customs, said: “Our project consists of digging 30 wells in the most underprivileged regions in Africa and Asia where potable water is scarce.”

The Water Aid campaign aims to provide clean water to five million people in developing countries by excavating wells and providing water pumps and water purification equipment.

The public fund-raising appeal was launched on Saturday. Already a number of large companies have donated to the cause with telecommunications companies Du and Etislt both giving Dh2.5 million, while the Al Ansari Exchange has donated Dh1 million

Ahmad bin Byat, chairman of du, said: “Water is the very essence of life, and is something that we take for granted, while others are less fortunate.

“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s UAE Water Aid initiative is a noble cause that will allow us to alleviate the water situation in less fortunate countries, contributing to saving millions of lives around the world by giving them access to clean water.”

Etisalat said it will be sending millions of text messages to its customers explaining how they can make a donation towards the cause.

Previously, the Dubai Cares charity, which improves children’s access to primary education in developing countries, has implemented Dh99 million of water and sanitation programmes in poor countries.

The UAE has also spent Dh25.3 million on 76 clean water projects in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Assistance Programme (PAP) has helped to dig wells and build water desalination plants, tanks and pumps for tens of thousands of people in the country, reported state news agency Wam.

These include 44 projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 20 in South Waziristan, 12 in Mohmand Agency and two in North Waziristan.

PAP was set up under the directives of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa to help Pakistan overcome the effect of the 2010 torrential rains and floods that wrecked havoc in the country.

As a result of the floods, malaria and hepatitis have been on the rise, and available clean water helps combat these health issues.

Maurizio Giuliano, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, said: “Up to 3.5 million Pakistani children are at high risk of deadly waterborne diseases, such as watery diarrhoea and dysentery. Water during the flood has been contaminated badly. There is a shortage of clean water.”

In 2013, the UAE provided US $5.2 billion (Dh19.1 billion) in development assistance to other countries. The Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said this was this was the highest amount in the world in proportion to a country’s gross national income.

UAE Ramadan campaign aims to bring fresh water to world's poor | The National

 

[Al Bhatti]

15 July 2014

Colm McLoughlin, executive vice-chairman of the Dubai Duty Free, handing over the ceremonial cheque for Dh3 million to Mohammed Abdulla Al Zarooni, manager, Dubai Chapter of Red Crescent, at a ceremony held at DDF headquarters in Ramoul on Monday.


UAE Water Aid campaign surpasses its own target
Over Dh140 million raised will help 5,603,000 people globally

An additional 603,000 people, who lack access to clean drinking water, will benefit from the UAE Water Aid campaign (UAE Suqia) after it raised more than Dh140 million, surpassing its own target of helping five million people.

The Dh140,081,000 raised so far in the campaign saw generous donations from government departments, private companies and businessmen. The amount is enough to help provide access to potable drinking water to 5,603,000 people around the world, according to the Organising Committee of the campaign.

“The wide response ... to the charity campaign launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, within only two weeks has contributed to making this honourable achievement.

“This proves that our country has earned its well-deserved position at the forefront of ... humanitarian work through quality initiatives. These initiatives enable members of the society to perform their duty of guaranteeing the basics of dignified life for the population of regions facing difficult conditions,” said Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the UAE Water Aid campaign.

Al Gergawi thanked all donors for their contribution to this achievement, which he described as “a source of pride” and as “a demonstration of the interest of the whole society in taking part in charity”. This, he said, is in line with the spirit of the holy month of Ramdan and in compliance with the noble Islamic values of compassion and mercy.

“May Allah bless all the donors and enable them to always be part of efforts to promote peace, brotherliness, harmony and love among all people,” said Al Gergawi.

In order to allow more donors to show their support to the humanitarian drive, and to maximise its benefits for the needy, the campaign will continue to receive donations until it officially wraps up on 16 July.

Launched on the first day of Ramadan, the campaign will help in digging wells, and providing water pumps and water purification equipment.

Figures from World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2008 show that a child dies every 21 seconds from a water-related illness, or 9,863 people every day — 3.4 million people each year.

UAE Water Aid campaign surpasses its own target - Khaleej Times