Manual to improve UAE’s response to humanitarian emergencies published

ABU DHABI // The Ministry of International Cooperation and Development has published a manual to improve organisations’ response to humanitarian emergencies.

The manual, written in cooperation with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, aims to provide guidance to relief workers responding to natural disasters.

Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the Minister of International Cooperation and Development, said: “With the great increase in number and magnitude of global disasters, raising the numbers of the internally displaced people to unprecedented limits, and the widespread issue of food insecurity, there is a pressing need to achieve better coordination, unification of efforts and information exchange among humanitarian workers.

“Also, it’s necessary to utilise all available resources, in addition to the need for more qualified humanitarian relief workers. This manual is meant to be a contribution to achieve this goal.”

The manual will also help charities, government and non-governmental organisations to prepare for emergencies.

“Demands for humanitarian assistance are increasing. If we are to meet present and future humanitarian needs, we must work together to improve our response capacities and make the most of the resources available to us,” said Sheikha Lubna.

She said the UAE is one of the world’s leading donors and it is paramount that the country’s foreign aid be delivered efficiently.

In a foreword to the manual, Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said she welcomed the collaboration between OCHA and MICAD, which led to the second edition of the Manual on Responding to Emergencies.