Afghan film shows role of UAE

Humanitarian efforts of UAE Armed Forces in Afghanistan have been captured in a documentary.

provided images from the documentary film Misson: Winds of Goodness
A special report on the UAE's Afghanistan Taskforce 

The film that was presented at the majilis on August 22, 2011

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ABU DHABI // Hundreds of people gathered last night for a special screening of a documentary about the UAE Armed Forces and their time in Afghanistan.

Guests watched Mission: Winds of Goodness at the Ramadan majlis of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The 30-minute documentary chronicles how UAE officers delivered humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, maintained security and supported social and economic development in remote communities.

The audience included sheikhs and senior government officials, as well as military personnel. Among the guests was Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE.

The panel that took questions after the screening featured soldiers and medical staff who had served in Afghanistan, as well as the Emirati director of the documentary, Khalid Al Falasi.

The UAE has had a presence in Afghanistan for eight years, and six UAE-funded medical clinics and a hospital have been built there. Some of these are staffed by female Emirati doctors who tend to Afghan women and children.

A college, called Zayed University, as well as 11 schools and a library have been built with UAE funds and volunteers.

There are now 38 new mosques, several roads, and 160 drinking wells. The UAE committed more than Dh1.26 billion to Afghanistan in 2009, or 14 per cent of foreign aid that year, according to the UAE Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid.

More than Dh863million was allocated to construction, with the rest going to transport and storage. More than Dh26m went towards social infrastructure and services.

The documentary will be broadcast on Abu Dhabi Al Emarat TV tomorrow at 1am and 1.30pm.