UAE urged by Oxfam to unite with charities

Barbara Stocking, chief executive of Oxfam Great Britain, said by joining with other agencies the UAE can help millions and improve its standing on the world stage.

DUBAI // The head of an international charity has urged the UAE to work with other relief organisations to maximise aid.

Barbara Stocking, chief executive of Oxfam Great Britain, said collaboration with other agencies could help the UAE and other Arabian Gulf states increase their standing on the world stage while helping millions.

"We'd like to see the Gulf countries, in particular the UAE, to continue to grow their role in the world," said Ms Stocking ahead of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) charity gala tonight. "The way they are working and trying to share and learn from other people, it's fantastic.

"But working in different countries, you have to be coordinated. We don't want duplication. We want to know what people are able to do and what their expertise is because that is the way you maximise.

"The UAE is willing to coordinate, that's good. But I really want to reinforce that you don't go it alone - really work with the community to deliver more."

Ms Stocking, who will meet the UAE Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid and other Government charities, visits the Arabian Gulf twice a year to meet regional partners.

"We are not here just for fundraising. We started coming here seven years back because the Gulf is becoming influential in international development and humanitarian assistance," she said.

"We are also active in a lot of countries the Gulf is interested in, like the Palestinian Territories, Yemen, Egypt and countries across Africa like Somalia."

Oxfam Great Britain, which works in 53 countries, has previously partnered with charities such as the UAE Red Crescent, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charity Foundation and Dubai Cares.

"At this very moment we have a UAE delegation from the Red Crescent and Khalifa Foundation visiting Oxfam in England to see something of our work," she said.

The delegation is at Oxfam House in London for a three-day visit.

Ms Stocking said she hoped today's DIFF charity event, entitled One Night to Change Lives, will raise up to US$2 million (Dh7.3m) - double the amount of last year.

"We were absolutely amazed to get $1m last year. Can we exceed that this year? It would be fantastic if we could double it. We have an incredible run up of celebrities."

The guest list includes Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth and his film-producer wife Livia Firth, actresses Kristin Davis and Rooney Mara, actor Amr Waked and Emirati filmmaker Ali Mostafa.

Among items being auctioned is a red, handmade gown worn to this year's Oscars ceremony by Mrs Firth and tickets to see the Oxfam ambassador and actress Scarlett Johansson perform the opening show of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway, which comes with two return business-class flights to New York and two nights' accommodation.

Also on offer is a day at Vogue headquarters in Milan with two nights in the Italian city, a painting by the Iranian artist Nasser Ovissi and a Chopard 18-carat rose gold and stainless steel watch.

All proceeds go towards Oxfam and Dubai Cares' work in rural Tanzania to improve access to clean water, adequate sanitation and hygiene promotion for 15,000 children in 25 communities.