Dh4.5m raised for Yemen in two days

:Emirati aid workers distribute food donated by the UAE in the southern city of Aden last week to Yemenis who fled Abyan province following clashes between government forces and fighters allied with Al Qaeda.Show less

SHARJAH // A total of Dh4.5 million was raised in just two days to help the UAE Red Crescent's humanitarian aid efforts in Yemen.

Eleven centres were set up in the emirate to collect donations to fund the charity's work as part of its "Sanadhom" campaign, which began on Friday.

Residents turned up in large numbers to donate cash as well as clothes and medicines.

"In Sharjah, the main collection centre is at Mega Mall, others are at the different charitable centres in the emirate," said Khamis Al Baas, the director of the project at the Sharjah Red Crescent branch.

Yesterday, the UAE Red Crescent's office in Yemen began distributing humanitarian aid to families in Sanaa, the capital.

Khalfan Al Kindi, director of the Red Crescent office in Yemen, said food baskets containing sugar, flour, rice and cooking oil were handed out.

He said the drive was in line with a recent directive from Sheikh Khalifa, the President, to address the urgent humanitarian crisis across the country.

The Red Crescent has set up 167 collection centres across the UAE, with stands at malls, including Ajman City Centre, and its local offices in each emirate accepting donations.