Hamdan bin Zayed proud of UAE's 1st position as world's largest ODA donor

Abu Dhabi (WAM) H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and President of the Red Crescent Authority (RCA) has affirmed that the UAE's achievement of the first position globally as the most generous donor of official development assistance (ODA) in 2013 was made possible by the directives of the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their brethren the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates. In his statement on the occasion, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed said, "UAE has made a historic leap in the sphere of foreign aid and has jumped from the 19th position in 2012 to the first position in 2013 as its Official Development Assistance (ODA) increased by 375% to US$ 5.2 billion according to the official figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)." H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed emphasised that this advanced ranking ahead of the world's largest foreign aid donors was the natural result of the humanitarian approach established by the late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who dedicated his life in the service of the needy around the world and had always called for promoting the principles of friendship and cooperation between the nations and countries and the foundations of peace and co-existence, which is the same path followed today by the wise leadership of UAE" "UAE continues to provide humanitarian and charity aid around the globe and the message it wants to deliver to the whole world is that it is the Emirates of peace and love," H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed concluded. – Emirates News Agency, WAM