ABU DHABI // Proceeds of this year’s Ataya Exhibition will go towards the building of a hospital for mothers and children in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.
The Ataya Exhibition, organised by Emirates Red Crescent, was launched in 2012 by Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan, wife of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, president of Red Crescent.
The exhibition – to be held at the International Petroleum Investment Company Arena from May 3 to 7 – provides a platform for businesses to sell fashion items, jewellery, and home accessories where the amount recieved will be provided to a certain cause internally or to a foreign country.
Dr Mohammed Al Falahi, secretary general of Red Crescent, who spoke on behalf of Sheikha Shamsa, said: “Ataya aims to continue sustainable humanitarian work, and throughout this year’s participation the proceeds will got towards building a mother and child hospital in Erbil in Kurdistan.
“We all know of the humanitarian crisis in Erbil due to the increase in Iraqi and Syrian refugees where there are now approximately two million refugees living in severe circumstances with no basic needs, especially health care.”
He said the authority had already provided relief missions and shelter programmess in the camps of the region.
Dr Al Falahi said it was crucial to establish a healthcare facility that provides maternity and neonatal care and to protect children from diseases.
He said Erbil was chosen because refugees there “are in dire need of the amounts we are giving to provide medical, nutritional, and humanitarian aid”.
“From what I have seen in Erbil with my own eyes, the refugees don’t have access to sanitised water - they are thirsty, if we speak of food then they don’t have proper food,” he said.
“If they are looking for shelter then they have no homes. It is like they are living on a different planet, no one will believe they are staying in such conditions.”
He said the government of the region had provided them with a large plot to build the hospital.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
