Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 18 January 2015: HE Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, said that strengthening partnerships, the unification of the international community's efforts towards international development issues, as well as the effective response to different humanitarian crises, calls for supporting the abilities of active countries and international development and humanitarian organisations.
HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi also stressed that the current crises map confirms that there are a number of successive and unpredictable challenges, unless a common strategy and a set of goals between all counties is formed to face these challenges. She praised the recent development in adopting the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 which stresses the dangers of poverty and diseases, and enhances the abilities of developing counties and poor communities in forming plans that guarantees the continuity of the future development. She also spoke on the United Arab Emirates leading role under the guidance of the wise leadership in supporting the international community efforts to reach these goals.
HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi comments came during her meeting with several European Union ambassadors to the UAE, where discussions were held to strengthen cooperation and partnership opportunities in terms of international development and humanitarian crises response, referencing back to the UAE’s development and humanitarian work since 1971 as well as the philosophy towards helping other countries in crises.
HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi also spoke about the UAE’s efforts in international development and humanitarian crisis response without sex, gender or religion discrimination, where she highlighted the different support and humanitarian channels which provided over AED 1.64 billion (447 million dollars) to the humanitarian aid in Yemen and infrastructure development that led to redevelopment of the airport and the port of Aden, electricity stations, 11 hospital and medical centres, and 123 schools with the aim of developing 154 schools and other projects reaching out to 1.8 Yemenis.
In regards to the humanitarian response in Syria, the UAE has provided AED 2.2 billion dirhams (597 million dollars) by the end of 2015 thought the countries donating organisations, which included the joint UAE - Jordan camp and hospital, as well as food, health, water, education, and shelter aid reaching Syrian refugees in host neighbouring countries and inside the country.
HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi highlighted the positive impact of the UAE’s aid and projects in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia, including the Emirati initiative to fight Polio and the UAE’s leading role in development of Egypt and redevelopment of Gaza.
Ambassador of the EU Delegation to the UAE, Patrizio Fondi, said the meeting presented a chance to learn about the UAE’s humanitarian aid in detail, lauding the information and figures provided by HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi while highlighting the importance of continued dialogue.
The meeting was attended by ambassadors of Austria, Belguim, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It was also attended by Sultan Mohammad Al Shamsi, Undersecretary Assistant; Najla Mohammed Al Kaabi, Assistant Under-Secretary; and Tareq Al Badawna, Head of Monitoring Section.
