10/5/2006

The United Arab Emirates has decided to join the group of UN member countries contributing to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), pledging an annual grant of 300,000 US Dollars in support of the group’s contingency planning efforts.

The announcement came during OCHA meeting, opened here today.

The meeting is organised by the UAE Red Crescent Society. It is being held under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and RCS Chairman said the decision came as part of the UAE’s efforts to alleviate sufferings of the people affected by natural disasters or armed conflicts in different areas of the world.

"It is important that an effective mechanism is devised to coordinate and further strengthen partnership among the group’s member countries," Sheikh Hamdan said.

He added that situation in some hotspot areas requires more efforts to respond to emergency cases and to rally support for humanitarian issues.

"The current humanitarian scene calls for leveraging cooperation among UN agencies and NGOs to enhance dialogue, to exchange information and to develop ideas for effective humanitarian work," Sheikh Hamdan said.

Sanaa Darwish Al Kutbi, RCS Secretary general, said that the step taken by the UAE to join OCHA donors group mirrors the country’s keenness to consolidate partnership for quick response to emergencies and crises in the world.