Lubna Al Qasimi discusses strengthening relations in international development with European Union Ambassadors

ABU DHABI, 19th January, 2016 (WAM) -- Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, MICAD, Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, has said that strengthening partnerships, the unification of the international community's efforts towards international development issues, as well as the effective response to different humanitarian crises, calls for supporting the abilities of active countries and international development and humanitarian organisations. Sheikha Lubna also stressed that the current crises map confirms that there are a number of successive and unpredictable challenges, unless a common strategy and a set of goals between all counties is formed to face these challenges. She praised the recent development in adopting the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, which stresses the dangers of poverty and diseases, and enhances the abilities of developing counties and poor communities in forming plans that guarantees the continuity of the future development. She also spoke on the UAE's leading role, under the guidance of the wise leadership, in supporting international community efforts to reach these goals. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi's comments came during her meeting with several European Union ambassadors to the UAE, where discussions were held to strengthen cooperation and partnership opportunities in terms of international development and humanitarian crises response, referencing back to the UAE’s development and humanitarian work since 1971, as well as the philosophy towards helping other countries in crises. Sheikha Lubna also spoke about the UAE’s efforts in international development and humanitarian crisis response without sex, gender or religious discrimination, where she highlighted the different support and humanitarian channels which provided over Dh1.64 billion (US$447 million) to humanitarian aid in Yemen, and infrastructure development that led to redevelopment of the airport and the port of Aden, electricity stations, 11 hospital and medical centres, and 123 schools, with the aim of developing 154 schools and other projects reaching out to 1.8 Yemenis. With regards to the humanitarian response in Syria, the UAE has provided Dh 2.2 billion (US$597 million) up to the end of 2015 thought the country's donating organisations, which include the joint UAE - Jordan refugee camp and hospital, as well as provision of food, medicine, water, education facilities, and shelter aid for Syrian refugees in both neighbouring host countries and inside the country. The Minister also highlighted the positive impact of the UAE’s aid and related projects in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia, including the Emirati initiative to fight polio and the UAE’s leading role in development in Egypt and redevelopment in Gaza. The Ambassador of the EU Delegation to the UAE, Patrizio Fondi, said the meeting presented a chance to learn about the UAE’s humanitarian aid in detail, lauding the information and figures provided by Sheikha Lubna while highlighting the importance of continued dialogue. The meeting was attended by ambassadors of Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It was also attended by MICAD Assistant Under-Secretaries, Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi and Najla Mohammed Al Kaabi, and Tareq Al Badawna, Head of the Monitoring Section. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395290454678.html