UAE Water Aid campaign raises Dh140 million

DUBAI // An extra 603,000 people will benefit from UAE Water Aid after the campaign surpassed its target figure by Dh15 million.

The initiative set a goal of raising Dh125 million. So far, more than Dh140 million has been donated by government departments, companies and individuals.

“This means that we will be able to get projects out to all the people we had identified that need help getting access to clean water,” said Mohammed Al Haj Al Zaroni, head of the Red Crescent in Dubai.

The donation drive officially wraps up on Wednesday. The campaign will now benefit an estimated 5.6 million people worldwide.

Work is under way in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tanzania, in addition to refugee camps in Iraq where thousands of Syrians and Iraqis are provided shelter and aid by the UAE.

“The project in Erbil, Iraq, was initially for four wells, but after the Red Crescent convoy visited the area and reviewed the conditions at the UAE refugee camps it was determined that we would add one more well,” Mr Al Zaroni said.

The next locations will be Togo and Niger. “We plan to complete 600 shallow water wells in different parts of Africa by the end of Ramadan.”

The campaign’s 17th day saw the family of the late Ahmed Al Mousa donate Dh2 million, which his son Abdulla matched. Khalaf Al Habtour and Majed Al Kadhim each donated Dh1m, as did an unnamed philanthropist. Mohammed Ibrahim Obaidullah gave Dh2 million, while Tayeb Mohammed Ibrahim donated Dh210,000 and Mohammed Omar Al Jabri Dh50,000.

Staff from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner Affairs in Dubai donated Dh475,000, while the Awqaf and Minors’ Affairs department pledged Dh400,000, among other donors.