DUBAI // About five million people across the world will benefit from a Government drive to provide clean water to regions suffering from supply shortages and drought.
The campaign is due to start at the beginning of Ramadan, which is expected to be Sunday.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the UAE Suqia initiative to provide clean water to approximately five million people worldwide, the state news agency, Wam, reported.
UAE Suqia (an Arabic word meaning providing water to drink) campaign aims to provide clean water to millions in cooperation with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and other charity organisations.
Sheikh Mohammed ordered the committee to work in areas where water is scarce in coordination with the RCA and UAE Embassies abroad.
The initiative will be implemented by digging wells, the provision of water pumps and water-purification equipment distributed in the needy areas.
Launching the initiative, Sheikh Mohammed said: “As usual in the UAE, we receive this Holy Month with charitable initiatives to support underprivileged people.
“No doubt, Emiratis are sons of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and always ready to support the needy people.
“We will not stop launching humanitarian initiatives every year, since the UAE has an established charitable work. And we will continue following the legacy of the founding fathers.
“In our country, water is a great blessing. Our ancestors had been deprived of water, thus they knew its value. And nowadays those specialised in water projects know that a huge part of our financial resources is allocated to water purposes.”
Sheikh Mohammed presided over the first session of the organising committee of the initiative at the Executive Office in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
Among those who attended the meeting were Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and chairman of the UAE Suqia initiative, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, the director general of the Government of Dubai Media Office and other officials.
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