UAE to sponsor Lebanese orphans and help in reconstruction

Our Correspondent

The UAE will sponsor children who have lost their parents in the deadly explosion at Beirut port on August 4 that killed at least 158 people and injured more than 6,000. This was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and chairman of Emirates Red Crescent.

The ERC and the Humanitarian Aid Office of the UAE Embassy in Beirut will identify the orphans and affected families. The programme will take care of the basic needs of the victims and help to rebuild their homes.

The initiative called ‘From UAE and For Lebanon’ will be in two phases. The first, from August 10 to 25, will collect and prepare humanitarian goods needed in Lebanon, while the second, from August 15 to September 12 will assess material needed in the reconstruction effort.

Volunteers will help organise the material in the UAE, while qualified engineers will be asked to volunteer for the second phase of the programme.

The UAE has since sent tens of millions of dirhams worth of aid to Lebanon and 12 tonnes of protective equipment to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The day after the blast, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, directed the despatch of 30 tonnes of medical equipment and aid to Beirut in his personal aircraft.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan donated 12 tonnes of protective equipment to safeguard more than 10,000 frontline medical staff in Lebanon.

A UAE plane carrying 40 metric tonnes of critical medical and food supplies as well as nutritional supplements for children reached Beirut on August 8. The humanitarian aid was sent on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

In Sharjah, an emergency aid and relief campaign called ‘Salam Beirut’ was announced by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah; Chairperson of The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) and Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children at UNHCR. Donations to the ‘Salam Beirut’ drive can be made via SMS, bank transfers, cheques or cash.