On World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, UAE aid has nothing to with political agenda: Hamdan bin Zayed

Abu Dhabi (WAM): The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has laid down established standards for humanitarian giving, which qualified it to maintain top world ranking in Official Development Assistance (ODA) per GDP, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, and Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA), has said. In a statement to mark the annual World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, which falls on 8th May, Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that :''The pure humanitarian criterion comes on top of giving criteria and guides UAE foreign aid towards its end without linking these aid to political agenda.'' Sheikh Hamdan noted that rapid pace of natural disasters, environmental degradation, disease outbreaks and spread of health risks, breach of international humanitarian law in many war zones (where women and children are the main victim) were among the major challenges facing international humanitarian and aid teams. ''Celebration of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day aims to draw attention, mobilise forces and work hard to alleviate suffering and ordeals of people affected by disasters, wars and conflicts, poverty, disease and want, necessitate collective action and concerted efforts of all international organisations so as to deliver assistance effectively and efficiently to those waiting ''our help and save them from their calamity.'' He added that the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement estimates that more than one billion Dollars are needed to deliver most pressing humanitarian assistance to targeted groups across the world and this calls on all stakeholders to seek building more partnerships and devise plans required to improve response to current challenges, expand the base of volunteers and harness their energy to deliver a true value added to aid recipients. Speaking about the RCA's humanitarian initiatives, Sheikh Hamdan went to say that the RCA's hands had reached out to needy people in more than 100 countries either through relief programmes or development infrastructure projects which contributed to restoring stability to vulnerable and weak communities. In regards to the UAE's response to Syria's humanitarian crisis, Sheikh Hamdan said the RCA is still playing a central role in assisting Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq Syria, and its programmes go beyond urgent relief to rehabilitation in health, educational and social services. Sheikh Hamdan also appealed to the national societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent around the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, governments, local communities and NGOs, to maximise their efforts to confront risks meted out by conflicts and wars, especially displacement and refuge. He also paid a glowing tribute to the RCA's local and international supporters, valued the role of good doers who helped the RCA to expand its umbrella of charitable programmes and thanked volunteers for their effort to elevate humanitarian work. World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is an annual celebration of the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is celebrated on 8 May each year. This date is the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant (born 8 May 1828), the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize. – Emirates News Agency, WAM