Yemen cabinet thanks leaders for ERC drive

ABU DHABI // The Yemeni cabinet has hailed the Emirates Red Crescent's Yemen: We Care campaign, which raised Dh13.7 million on its first day.

And the month-long initiative, aimed at rebuilding the lives of 10 million Yemeni people, has received a donation of Dh1m from the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

Ministers from the Yemeni government in exile on Monday expressed their thanks and appreciation to the UAE leadership for launching the campaign.

They also praised the continuous support in restoring security and stability after the onslaught by the Houthi rebels.

“Such campaigns are vital for the region,” said George Itty, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi social-responsibility organisation Nahtam.

“It is wonderful work that the ERC is doing. They care about the country as a brother and they support them when they are in need,” Mr Itty said.

He said the UAE had a significant role to play in the rebuilding of Yemen and easing the suffering of its people.

“It is a responsibility that they are taking up,” Mr Itty said. “The UAE is very generous when it comes to humanitarian work. It is in their blood and it has been for a long time as it is in their tradition and culture. It is the way they live and it is wonderful work.”

The ERC has also started maintenance and repair work on 135 schools in Aden, the southern port city liberated with the help of UAE troops. The schools will accommodate about 138,000 students.

“Long-term stability in Yemen, and security and prosperity for its citizens, will require a mixture of military and development-oriented efforts,” said Johan Bergenas, the deputy director of the Managing Across Boundaries Initiative at the Stimson Centre think tank.

“Regional initiatives and cooperation, such as the Emirates Red Crescent’s, is a critical part of achieving those objectives. It is important that military and development-oriented initiatives are coordinated to achieve the greatest impact.”

Yemen: We Care was launched under the orders of the President, Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

It is being followed up by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the ERC.