UAE's ERC distributes 100k food parcels to refugees in Iraq's Kurdistan

ABU DHABI, 16th June 2015 (WAM) --- In implementation of directives from President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and orders from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, is distributing 100,000 food parcels to refugees in Iraq's Kurdistan Region to help them through the Holy Month of Ramadan. The ERC said in a statement that its effort which will continue through the first week of Ramadan is being followed up by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and President of the ERC. The agency intensified its efforts in the past two days to procure and prepare the food aid from local markets in Erbil City to meet the needs of some 500,000 Iraqi and Syrian refugees living in public buildings, schools and places of worship in the Iraqi region. The ERC added that the effort is being coordinated with its office in Erbil and the UAE Consulate in the Iraqi city. The distribution of the latest food aid was based on a field survey at refugee camps to determine the needs of beneficiaries. The ERC stressed that the UAE leaders continue to bolster its efforts to help the refugees in the country facing a humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian agency maintains a strong presence in the Iraqi region since the onset of the crisis which is being further exacerbated by continuous refugee flows from neighbouring war-hit Syria. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395281926753.html Fourth batch of UAE planes carrying relief aid supplies arrives in Yemen ABU DHABI, 16th June, 2015 (WAM) -- As per directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, a fourth batch of relief aid arrived this morning in the Republic of Yemen on board two Emirati planes carrying food and medical materials to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly people of Yemen. Their Highnesses' directive aims to provide food aid and urgent medical supplies to the people of Yemen who suffer from a severe shortage of food and medicine as a result of the current situation in the country. The relief deliveries come within the framework of the airlift implemented by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation. The two planes carried 62 tons of food stuff and 50 tons of medicines and medical devices. An official source at the Khalifa Foundation said the UAE relief aid supplies will reach 3, 350 tons of food stuff, including rice, flour, sugar, dates, oil, tea, salt, Tuna, beans, chickpeas and in addition to 100 tons of medicines and other medical supplies. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395281919063.html