UAE Pledges AED 60.6 Million To Support Forcibly Displaced In Several Countries

The UAE's Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) has allocated AED 60.6 million in 2024 to support forcibly displaced people across the world.

The announcement was made on Thursday during the Global Refugee Forum, held in Switzerland, co-hosted by UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the UN Refugee Agency and the Government of Switzerland. MBRGI attended the event as a participant.

The funds will be utilized to provide direct food aid alongside sustainable livelihood programs.

According to the MBRGI pledge, around AED 37 million will be given to UNHCR's humanitarian relief programs and sustainable development in eight countries, including Armenia, Bangladesh, Botswana, India, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tunisia.

Whereas, AED 5.5 million will go towards UNHCR's support and relief projects for Sudanese refugees in Chad, focusing on healthcare, water, and sanitation needs in refugee camps. Furthermore, around AED 18 million will help the World Food Program (WFP) in addressing the Gaza Strip's urgent needs.

"MBRGI continues to implement humanitarian aid and relief campaigns to support vulnerable and forcibly displaced populations around the world," Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary General of MBRGI said, WAM reported.

Al Gergawi praised the visions and directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, under which this pledge was taken "to alleviate the suffering of those in need, and empower them to face the challenging conditions whether in their home countries or in host countries."

He explained that the pledge, which will support UNHCR and WFP projects over the next year, showed MBRGI's deep commitment to using all capabilities to help forcibly displaced people in terms of food, medical care and shelter.

The secretary-general noted that MBRGI was looking forward to building effective partnerships with the United Nations and international organizations, adding that collaboration with UNHCR was important to implement vital projects to help humanitarian causes.

Saeed Al Eter, assistant secretary general at MBRGI, noted that the foundation was launched in 2015 to provide humanitarian aid and relief to underprivileged populations across the world, revealing that so far, the MBRGI's Humanitarian Aid projects have funded 150.8 million people worldwide.

"Today more than ever, the world needs to come together in helping forcibly displaced persons, whose numbers soared to 114 million people worldwide. These unprecedented numbers necessitate that international organizations adopt a new approach to address this challenge," Al Eter added.