MICAD s report on UAE foreign aid: AED173b178 countries 44 years

ABU DHABI 23rd January 2016 (WAM) --- The United Arab Emirates continued to offer humanitarian and development aid in various regions around the world during 2015 with the total number of beneficiary countries reaching 178 since the establishment of the UAE in 1971.

Statistical data released by the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) show that the development and humanitarian and charitable aid provided by the UAE during the past 44 years reached AED173 billion to 21 sectors.

These statistics were announced by the MICAD in a special report launched on the 44th UAE National Day to highlight the country's efforts in the field of international aid and the initiatives of its wise leadership provided through donor institutions to improve the lives of millions of people. Through these efforts the UAE won the title of "the most generous country in the world" in 2013 and 2014.

The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) last week released its final report on official development assistance data previously announced in April 2015. According to the released data the UAE ranked first globally as the largest international donor of official development aid for the second year in a row with a total of 18.36 billion AED of development aid in 2014 accounting for 1.26% of gross national income.

According to the final results published by the committee Sweden came second with its development aid accounting for 1.09% of its national income followed by the Luxembourg with 1.06% then Norway in fourth place with 1%.

Occupying this position for the second year in a row reaffirms the UAE's commitment to its humanitarian mission and the principles on which it was established. It also enhances its position as a humanitarian hub and a source of relief and aid for all friendly nations.

Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi Minister of International Cooperation and Development said this achievement is also a testimony to the generous policies adopted by the UAE's wise leadership. These policies she continued were established by the late founder of the nation the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and carried forward by 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; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

: Asia largest beneficiary According to the latest information released by the ministry Asia was the main beneficiary of support and aid money provided during the past 44 years with a total of AED79.4 billion followed by the Africa with AED75.4 billion pumped into development projects such as housing complexes roads bridges power generation plants and others.

Released records show that the largest percentage of the UAE aid is concentrated in the government and civil society sector which received AED80.6 billion followed by the public programs support sector with a total of AED 22.5 billion in aid. The value of humanitarian and relief aid in emergency situations accounted for about AED7.7 billion.

In a related context the combined statistics for the past 44 years show that government aid accounted for 74% of the total value of aid and grants provided by donors in the country collectively worth AED129 billion. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development came in second place with contributions worth AED30.5 billion followed by the Emirates Red Crescent with AED 5.7 billion and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation with charities worth AED2.9 billion.

The value of development projects and support provided by UAE donor institutions to children over the past 44 years amounted to about AED2 billion which were distributed among the health and education sectors as well as relief programs and infrastructure.

::AED1.6 billion in aid to Yemen In the framework of ongoing humanitarian development in Yemen the United Arab Emirates played a pivotal role in responding to humanitarian crises on the ground in Yemen thus becoming the second largest donor of humanitarian aid in Yemen globally according to data released by the UN Financial Tracking Service (FTS).

The total UAE foreign aid granted to Yemen until the end of 2015 amounted to about AED 1.6 billion dedicated to infrastructure rehabilitation projects to be implemented in Yemen.

The process of sending UAE humanitarian aid to Yemen was carried out over four stages aimed at the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Aden and the neighboring provinces with a focus on electricity food health water sanitation fuel and transport as well as coordination and support. The aid was distributed to the provinces of Aden Lahj Al Dhali Abyan Marib Shabwa Hadramout Al Mahr and Socotra island.

It is worth mentioning that the total value of UAE aid to Yemen from 1971 to 2015 amounted to AED6.65 billion.

:: AED 2.2 billion for the Syrian crisis In a similar context Syria has had a large share of UAE aid and support totaling AED2.2 billion until the end of 2015.The UAE was at the forefront of countries which came to the aid of the brothers in Syria since 2012.

The UAE's response to the crisis was implemented in Syria and in countries hosting Syrian refugees like Jordan Lebanon Iraq Turkey and Egypt including Palestinian refugees in Syria to benefit up to 1.5 million refugees and displaced people.

This approach is consistent with the humanitarian approach of the UAE's wise leaders who issued directives to provide all forms of assistance and support for refugees in various countries of the world and make an urgent response delivering relief aid.

The UAE's contribution was made through the UN Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan inside Syria and the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Syrian refugees in neighboring countries like Jordan. At the first second and third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria held in Kuwait the UAE pledged the provision of US$460 million.

In order to implement these projects the UAE collaborated with international partners to provide humanitarian assistance inside Syria and in neighboring countries aimed at meeting basic humanitarian needs namely food security and addressing malnutrition suffered by women and children. These international organisations include the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) the World Food Programme (WFP) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) the World Health Organization (WHO) the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

The UAE also opened the UAE-Jordanian Mrajib Al Fhood refugee camp and the UAE-funded field hospital in Jordan and collaborated with a number of countries including the United Kingdom and Norway to implement aid projects. The UAE also set up the Emirati Red Crescent camp for Syrian refugees in northern Iraq.

In this context the UAE granted around 100000 visas for Syrians since the start of the crisis in Syria in 2011. About 242000 Syrians currently reside in the UAE and most were accommodated in schools and universities and found jobs.

:: AED736 million pledged for reconstruction of Gaza During the meetings of the Cairo International Conference on Palestine held in October 2014 the UAE announced a pledge to donate about AED736 million (US$200.4 million) for the reconstruction of Gaza.

The UAE continues to provide in-kind and financial assistance to support the Palestinian people and strengthen Palestinian institutions in the occupied territories out of the commitment of the wise leadership to assert its absolute support for the reconstruction of Gaza and improving living conditions in the strip and in Palestine in general.

According to the ministry's report the UAE has disbursed and allocated about US$76.34 million of the total pledge of US$200 million while the remaining US$123.56 million has been distributed according to the commitments agreed upon with the UAE donor institutions and sides the largest part of which is managed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Foundation.

The UAE funds allocated for the reconstruction of Gaza were divided over a period of three years starting from 2015 until 2017 under a plan submitted by United Nations organisations and the Islamic Development Bank and in line with the national plan for early recovery presented by the Palestinian government to the donor conference in Cairo.

:: AED29 billion in aid to Egypt The ministry's report said that the overall UAE development aid provided to Egypt during the years 2013 and 2014 amounted to AED29 billion exceeding the total amount of AED24 billion previously pledged by the UAE in support of economic development and stability in Egypt.

The ministry's report said that the UAE 's position in support of Egypt is in line with the philosophy and wise guidance of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan the founder of the United Arab Emirates who was committed to the UAE's support for the security and stability of Egypt out of love and appreciation for the brotherly Egypt its position and its culture as well as its valuable human and development potentials and historical achievements.

The report noted that UAE assistance to Egypt is not new as support of the Egyptian people is present and ongoing. The report added that large projects have been developed and funded by the United Arab Emirates over decades and carry its name reflecting the strong and solid relationship between the two brotherly countries consistent with the UAE's commitment to provide all aspects of support and assistance aimed at improving the standards of life and living conditions of the genuine Egyptian people.

It is worth mentioning that the total value of UAE's to Egypt between the founding of the Federation of the UAE in 1971 and 2014 in all areas of humanitarian and development nearly reached AED47.3 billion.

:: AED1.1 billion in aid to Pakistan The UAE benevolence also extended to Pakistan where the UAE Project to Assist Pakistan implemented development and humanitarian projects at a cost of AED 1billion (US$272million) to aftermath of the devastating floods that struck the country in 2010 reconstruct the infrastructure and provide humanitarian aid. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation financed the bulk of the cost of these projects.

A second important initiative was launched by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to vaccinate millions of Pakistani children under the theme "Health for All Better Future." The management of the Project to Assist Pakistan said that 86 million polio vaccinations were administered to the children of Pakistan in 53 areas in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the tribal Fateh Jang region the province of Balochistan and the Sindh region.

For his part His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces launched an initiative to provide US$120 million to support of the global effort to eradicate polio by 2018 with a special focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In 2011 H.H. Sheikh Mohamed and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a strategic partnership that provided a total of US$100 million divided equally between the two parties for the purchase and delivery of vaccines for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

:: Foreign aid sector Recognising the importance of focusing on the UAE foreign aid institutions the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan directed the organisation of this sector through the establishment and launch of a system of institutions that provide development humanitarian and charity assistance to many countries in the world with the aim of strengthening the impact of foreign aid to beneficiary countries.

Sheikh Zayed established many donor humanitarian and charitable institutions during his reign. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development was the first institution to lead the path of benevolence and goodwill. It was created in 1971 with the aim of providing assistance to brotherly and friendly developing countries and supporting their efforts to achieve economic and social development. The fund has become the UAE's development arm outside the country.

Through the establishment of the Fund the UAE was able to institutionalise its policies designed to help developing countries through the provision of development aid in an efficient and organised fashion thus maximising the benefits of recipient countries.

The Emirates Red Crescent was established in 1983 and later became the state's arm for the delivery of relief aid. It has provided aid in a large number of affected countries during emergency situations and has responded to emergency calls by international organisations.

The humanitarian and development scene in the country was further enhanced with the establishment of a large number of UAE donor institutions and charities including the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Foundation for charitable and humanitarian work and other institutions. Today this number has exceeded 45 donor institutions working on the provision of foreign humanitarian aid.

In 2008 the UAE Foreign Aid Coordination Office was founded to regulate the UAE foreign aid sector and enhance the stature of the UAE as a main donor on the international arena. The office and its functions were integrated into the system of the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) established in March 2013.

These bodies helped provide humanitarian development and charitable aid to many countries. These institutions advanced toward specialisation in their work in accordance with the foundations laid by the founder father of the UAE which made the UAE today one of the world's major donors.

:: Emirati pledge at the UN The UAE continues to play a leading role in international meetings and forums to highlight its contributions in the field of foreign aid the most recent being the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 in New York as part of the UAE's participation in the summit meetings on the sidelines of the 70th regular session of the General Assembly concluded in October.

During this global event the UAE made a formal pledge to "not ignore any state that lags behind in the development process and to help the world to move toward a path that supports sustainability and flexibility" as part of its tireless efforts toward the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and achieving the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development launched by the United Nations General Assembly.

In this context the UAE announced that its aid supported a number of key areas in the 2030 development agenda including infrastructure development fighting poverty and hunger the provision of aid for healthcare education and renewable energy in addition to the support and empowerment of women.