RCA: Water Aid digs 73 wells in Afghanistan and four in Iraq

Abu Dhabi (WAM): The U.A.E. Red Crescent Authority (RCA) yesterday announced that 73 wells were being dug in Afghanistan and other four were being dug in Iraq as part of the U.A.E. Water Aid campaign launched by Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to provide access to fresh drinking water for five million persons around the world who suffer from shortage of potable water. Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary General of the RCA, said that Afghanistan had been among the first countries to benefit most from the U.A.E. humanitarian initiative. Most of the wells are being dug in rural regions where populations suffer acute shortage of water. He added that work had already commenced on digging four artesian wells in Erbil Province in Iraq's Kurdistan. Al Falahi indicated that the Water Aid Follow up Committee was coordinating with U.A.E. embassies abroad to implement Sheikh Mohammed's initiative to provide fresh water resources to the targeted population in 60 countries. U.A.E. Water Aid campaign s humanitarian contributions have reached Dh 76.450 million on the fourth day of its launch. The amount collected can provide fresh drinking water for 3.058 million persons from developing countries; this number constitutes 61% of the 5 million persons the campaign is targeting. – Emirates News Agency, WAM