UAE Water Aid campaign raises Dh80.45 million in five days

DUBAI // The UAE Water Aid campaign has raised Dh80.45 million to help fund its goal of giving five million people around the world access to clean water.

Collected in just five days, the figure represents 64 per cent of the Dh125m target, and is enough to help 3.2 million people.

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 3.4m people die each year as a result of diseases associated with a lack of safe drinking water.

Dubai Police pledged Dh2.5m to UAE Water Aid, enough to help 100,000 people.

“[UAE Water Aid] emphasises the importance of lending a helping hand to those in need in these difficult circumstances. The problem of scarcity of drinking water has increased in many countries around the world in recent decades and threatens the lives of millions,” said Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Muzaina, chief of Dubai Police.

Swiss watch distributor Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons donated Dh1m to the campaign, while Al Khaleej Boats donated Dh500,000.

Aswaq supermarkets announced all proceeds from the sale of water at its outlets in Dubai until the 18th day of Ramadan will be handed over to the campaign, while the Dubai Land department handed over a cheque for Dh500,000 to the UAE Red Crescent, the amount pledged to the charity on the first day of Ramadan.

“The timing of the launch of this initiative is perfect, at a time when millions around the world are suffering from the scourge of wars and conflicts, famine, and increasing adversity and cruelty because of the problem of drought that hits large areas of the world, especially among the people most in need,” said Sultan Buti bin Mejrin, Director General of Dubai Land Department.

“On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan many people endeavour to do good, and they will respond to the initiative to achieve this noble humanitarian goal.”

The UAE Red Crescent has already started work in Afghanistan and Iraq and has been communicating with the embassies of Somalia, Tanzania, Ghana, Egypt, Sudan, Malaysia and Pakistan.

malkhan@thenational.ae