Dubai leads pledges of support flowing into campaign to provide water

DUBAI // The UAE Red Crescent is in full swing to drill wells in a number of countries as part of the UAE Water Aid campaign.

Launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to provide access to clean water to 5 million people in countries suffering shortage, the campaign has stepped up the Red Crescent’s efforts to accomplish the target.

Dubai led on the fourth day of the campaign with Dh3 million in donation pledges. The money will help 120,000 people have access to clean water.

The municipality also organised a campaign for its employees to participate by providing donation boxes in its main building and centres around the emirate.

Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority donated Dh2m.

“We believe in the importance of contributing to the cause and to support various charitable campaigns,” said Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, the free zone director general.

“It is the basis of our commitment to support the national charity and humanitarian work inside the UAE and abroad for the relief of the needy around the world.”

Abu Dhabi-based energy firm Emdad donated Dh1m, which was matched by the Social Development Authority.

This brought the total donations collected to Dh76.45m, an amount that will aid more than 3 million people worldwide.

“We began taking steps to achieve the goals of the UAE Water Aid campaign from the moment of its launch,” said Dr Mohammed Al Falahi, UAE Red Crescent secretary general.

One of the first nations to receive help is Afghanistan, where 73 wells are being dug in areas where access to water is very arduous.

The work is taking place in rural areas such as Jowzjan in the north of the country where eight wells are being drilled in the districts of Hasan Tabin and Nowabad Marghab.

In the province of Sar-e Pol, 12 wells will aid people in the villages of Hat Bakhshi and Katkajar. The state of Baghlan will receive 17 wells in three districts, and another five in the state of Takhar for the district of Baghak.

In Kunduz state, four villages will have 19 wells drilled, while another 12 wells will be drilled in villages around Kabul.

The Red Crescent also began drilling four boreholes in the Kurdish province of Erbil in Iraq.

“The Red Crescent has recruited its human resources and its humanitarian partners abroad to serve the objectives of the UAE Water Aid campaign, which will provide visible and tangible results in improving the water supply in areas of drought and arid lands, particularly in Africa and Asia,” Dr Al Falahi said.