U.A.E. Water Aid campaign donations exceed DH121 million in 15 days

Dubai (WAM): On its 15th day running, the sum of donations collected by the U.A.E. Water Aid campaign has reached DH121.097 million through generous contributions from government entities, community institutions, businessmen and individuals alike. The amount collected can provide fresh drinking water to more than 4.8 million distressed people in poor countries; 97% of the campaign’s target of 5 million people. The Water Aid Campaign was launched by U.A.E. Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan to provide access to fresh drinking water for 5 million people around the world who suffer from shortage of potable water. The World Health Organization (WHO) figures show that a child dies every 21 seconds from a water-related illness and 9,863 people die every day from thirst and water related diseases. Donations on the 15th day included DH3 million from MBC Group Chairman Al Waleed Al Ibrahim, DH2 million from Emirati businessman Saeed Al Kindi, DH2 million from Al Tayer Group and DH1 million from Damac Chairman Hussain Sajwani. Other generous donations included DH0.5 million from the Canadian University in Dubai, DH0.5 million from Emirati businessman Ahmed Abdullah Al Shafaar, DH0.25 million from the American University in the Emirates and DH200,000 from the Directorate General of Civil Defence – Dubai. The U.A.E. Water Aid campaign is set to conclude on Wednesday, 16 July, 2014. Donations collected until now are enough to dig wells that provide clean drinking water to more than 4.8 million people in areas lacking potable water in various poor regions of the world. The U.A.E. people’s immediate response and ongoing support to the U.A.E. Water Aid campaign underlines the noble values of the people of country. Media outlets around the globe have valued U.A.E. role as capital of humanitarian initiatives, highly commending the role His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in the various areas of charitable and humanitarian work. U.A.E. Water Aid campaign comes in the light of the aggravation of water scarcity issue in many parts of the world over the past decades. This scarcity has resulted in threatening the life of millions of people, heralding grave dangers if world countries and international bodies do not initiate prompt plans and strategies so as to bring forward radical solutions for this issue in afflicted areas. World Health Organisation (WHO) figures show that more than 3.4 million die every year due to thirst and diseases caused by unclean water. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – Read more: http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395267687300.html