The General Assembly
of the United Nations adopted the 19th of August each year as the World
Humanitarian Day, which corresponds to the anniversary of the bombing of the UN
headquarters in Baghdad on August 19th, 2003. On this day, the
efforts of humanitarian workers and their, civil, governmental, and
international organizations, who contribute to facing the health and
environmental disasters in times of crises, and the challenges of aging and
disability for the individual and the family, are all highlighted in
recognition of their position in the building of man and society. This year’s
celebration is under the theme: "The World Needs More ...”.
The
Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon commended, during his visit
to the country on May 5th, 2014, the humanitarian aids and situations
of the UAE, represented by the President, government, institutions and
individuals, and its initiatives in helping the various peoples and countries
stricken by natural disasters, wars, or drought, and the like, thanks to the
late Sheikh Zayed, for the values and concepts of humanity he instilled in
the hearts of his children and successive generations, whose help extended to
reach all corners of the globe, for the support of all those harmed and the
establishment of mosques, hospitals, health clinics, science schools and
universities, infrastructure projects, housing projects, and digging wells to
provide clean water, and other good projects, and for contributing to the
financing of development projects in the developing countries to improve the
quality of life of the citizens in these countries, and to achieve their stability
and progress.
The value of
development and humanitarian aid provided by the UAE during the period from
1971 to 2004 reached about 90.5 billion Dirhams, and more than 117 countries
worldwide benefited from it.
The UAE also ranked
first globally in the humanitarian work in 2013, which is a historical
achievement that embodies the vision of humanity for the wise leadership,
reflects the values of solidarity and compassion that characterize the State
and its citizens, and sends a strong message to the world that human values
should prevail in the relations of countries, and the support of our brothers
and friends in times of crisis and adversity are the way to peace and global
stability.
It is noteworthy
that in the UAE, and on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of the
late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Council of Ministers issued
Resolution No. (7/1/14/295) for the year 2012 on naming the anniversary of the
departure of the late Sheikh Zayed as the Humanitarian Work Day for the U.A.E,
which is marked on 19th of Ramadan each year. Through this
initiative, humanitarian initiatives in the various institutions of the State are
launched, and individuals and public and private institutions are allowed to
commemorate Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in recognition of his role in the
arena of philanthropy in the State.
The celebrations
this year, which were held on the 10th anniversary of the death of
the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, under the theme "Love and Loyalty
for the Generous Zayed" witnessed the launch of more vital and quality
humanitarian and charitable initiatives through thousands of governmental and
community events organized by public and private institutions, as about 1,500 events
were organized last year for immortalizing the good feats of the leader of humanitarian
work and the founder of the State, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, most
notably, Clothe a Million Children initiative, in addition to other initiatives
designed to support education, health, children, and family, and other social
areas.
The commemoration of”
Zayed Humanitarian Work Day" this year coincided with the announcement of
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime
Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, on June 28th, 2014, for the launch of "Suqia" initiative to provide
drinking water for five million people in countries suffering from water
shortage.
18/08/2014