Lubna Al Qasimi stresses the importance of international dialogue in fighting humanitarian crises

ABU DHABI, 20th January, 2016 (WAM) -- Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, and Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, has called on the urgent need to establish an international forum, stressing the importance of developing and engaging in dialogue for a better tomorrow by addressing humanitarian crises. "We aim to develop and formulate direct solutions to respond effectively against all human rights abuses before they escalate," she said. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi also stressed that the situation of the Syrian humanitarian crisis, and lack of a comprehensive solution, after five years, draws attention to the seriousness of this unprecedented global humanitarian disaster. "The current situation for host countries of Syrian refugees and of displaced Syrians inside the country, especially the terrible conditions that Madaya residents are suffering from, have obliged us to harness all possibilities to reach effective and practical solutions from all international humanitarian donors and countries," she said. Sheikha Lubna's announcement came during the visit of Stephen O'Brien, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. O Brien and Sheikha Lubna held discussions at the Ministry's headquarters in Abu Dhabi. They discussed methods of enhancing bilateral relations between the UAE and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to support the United Nations efforts to respond to humanitarian crises. They also discussed arrangements for the UAE s participation in the upcoming humanitarian summit to be hosted by Turkey in May, and the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria, to be held in London in February. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi also confirmed the UAE s desire to support and strengthen its relations with various international institutions involved in humanitarian work, specifically UN institutions and organisations, including the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and other specialised UN organisations. During the meeting, Sheikha Lubna also highlighted the UAE s response to the Syrian crisis, for which it has presented, through various donor institutions, humanitarian aid worth Dh2.2 billion (US$ 597 million), as of December 2015, which exceeded the total value of US$ 460 million committed by the UAE through International Donor Conferences for Syria over the last three years. These donations included founding the joint Emirati-Jordanian Camp to accommodate Syrian refugees, as well as the UAE Jordanian Hospital. The humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees includes the provision of support, including food aid, shelter, health, water and sanitation, education and coordination. Aid will reach the Syrian refugees either in the neighbouring countries hosting them, or those displaced inside Syria. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi showcased the UAE s efforts and response to the current humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where, in 2015, the UAE presented aid worth approximately Dh1.64 billion (US$ 447 million), and that the state's efforts focused on the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the provision of humanitarian relief in the Yemeni governorates of Aden, Taez, Lahj, Dalea, Shabwa, Abyan, Hadramaut, Mahara and Marib, in addition to the island of Socotra. The UAE, she said, is focused on rebuilding the airport, the port of Aden, electrical stations and sub-stations, eleven hospitals, and a medical centre. The UAE is maintaining and rebuilding 154 schools, and has delivered 123 schools to date for the Yemeni government, along with other development projects and the continued provision of food aid, which has benefited more than 1.8 million Yemeni people. O Brien stressed the UN s desire to strengthen relations with the UAE, and to improve the mechanisms of the international response to various humanitarian crises across the world. He also reviewed the efforts and role of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The meeting was attended by Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Under-Secretary for International Development, and Najla Mohammed Al-Kaabi, Assistant Under-Secretary for International Cooperation. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395290512215.html