DUBAI // The campaign to provide clean drinking water to five million people in Asia and Africa has raised more than Dh60 million in two days.
The Emirates Red Crescent said donations to UAE Suqia were pouring in fast from government departments, private organisations and individuals.
“We raised Dh33.5m on Saturday from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Customs, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority and many more organisations,” said Mohammad Al Zarouni, head of the organisation’s Dubai branch.
“We urge everyone to come forward and donate for this project.”
The Red Crescent intends to dig 600 wells in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Iraq, and in African countries such as Togo, Niger, Ghana and Somalia. It will also distribute water pumps and water-purification equipment. Digging could take between 15 days and four months, depending on the terrain, the depth of the water table and the size of the well.
Mr Al Zarouni said water tanks would be installed where water was available but wasted as a result of inefficient collection.
“We are also trying to purify water. About 400,000 children die in Africa every year because of dirty water and we want to avoid that,” Mr Al Zarouni said.
The Red Crescent plans to dig four large water wells in Iraq, initially in Kurdistan, depending on the security situation in the country.
“We are also installing water tanks for refugees and they will be ready in 18 days. The tanks will provide clean water to about 100,000 people.”
UAE Suqia is an initiative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi has launched a Ramadan project called Let Hope Shine, to build a school in Ghana. The mall management will work with the Red Crescent to open the school for the 2015-2016 academic year. Visitors can donate for the project.
pkannan@thenational.ae
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