More than 100,000 thirsty refugees displaced by the floods in Pakistan will get long-term water supplies from the UAE under a new agreement, officials said yesterday.
The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) signed an agreement yesterday with the British charity organisation, Oxfam, to find solutions for a permanent supply of clean water suitable for drinking, washing and cooking for the 140,000 refugees in UAE-facilitated camps in Pakistan.
Dr Saleh al Taee, the secretary general adviser of the RCA, said the 20,000 families were provided with water through traditional methods, such as distributing bottles and drawing from a well the authority dug.
"But these solutions are not enough for 140,000 people," he said.
"In the beginning of the crisis, some families that were in unreachable areas received water bottles that were thrown to them from helicopters. One bottle is not even enough for one person for a day.
"In Pakistan they have excess water, which is what caused the problem, but it is all polluted and is causing diseases."
Barbara Stocking, the chief executive of Oxfam, explained that there are several methods for providing potable water. Building water channels, desalination and chlorine tablets that can be placed into polluted water to purify it are all potential solutions.
The agreement will give way to co-operation between the two in areas other than Pakistan.
"I think there is an interest in issues in Yemen and in Palestine, especially in Gaza," she said.
Nothing specific has been discussed yet, but Ms Stocking said she could see potential co-operation in RCA projects for displaced people and housing projects in Hadramout.
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues