UAE Water Aid: UAE will continue to support poor and affected communities

DUBAI, 23rd June, 2016 (WAM)--Observing Zayed Humanitarian Day, Suqia has highlighted the water scarcity grows in the region, and rest of the world, noting that it is not only a threat to international security, but also hampers development.

Suqia, non-profit organisation, stressed that the UAE continues its role to tackle water problems and contribute to finding sustainable solutions.

As a result of an increase in population, and an increase in demand for water in addition to the changing climate, the challenge to provide clean drinking water has made itself more present than ever before. In 2013, the World Bank issued a report containing the results of climate change in the region, warning that the region will face an increase in temperature, and other destructive circumstances that will heavily affect tourism and agriculture. The region can expect scarcity of pure water due to a decrease in precipitation, while flooding will become more apparent in other regions.

The international community has joined efforts to find solutions to water scarcity, while the UAE plays a major role to support international efforts to provide clean drinking water to people in need all over the world, as well as contributing to finding sustainable solutions for global water scarcity. The wise leadership of the UAE provides aid to people in need, and works to find long-term sustainable solutions to water scarcity.

The Zayed Future Energy Prize was launched in 2008 to embody the vision of the founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and to find solutions to the challenges created by climate change, energy security, and the environment. In May 2016, the Khalifa bin Zayed Foundation launched a project to provide drinkable water to several provinces in Afghanistan.

In June 2014, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) to provide clean water to five million people worldwide. Suqia managed to raise AED 180 million in 18 days, to provide clean drinking water to 7 million people around the world, in cooperation with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority.

In March 2015, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued a law establishing Suqia as non-profit organisation, to enhance the sustainability of the initiative. Today, Suqia is under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, strives to find sustainable solutions to the issue of water scarcity, and promotes happiness within poor and disaster-stricken communities. Suqia works to tackle international poverty and sickness through various humanitarian aid initiatives and Research and Development (R & D), to find sustainable solutions to water scarcity.

The foundation aims to promote the UAE''s position globally, and participate in initiatives and humanitarian aid to help achieve sustainable development for all mankind, by supporting international communities and providing clean water solutions, and conducting research and studies to support the production of clean water using solar energy.

Suqia launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, to find sustainable solutions to water shortages, develop international partnerships, and invest in technologies that provide clean and drinkable water.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia, stressed that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum''s launch of Suqia underlines the commitment by the UAE leadership to support international humanitarian efforts. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a figure of benevolence to the world, as are his sons, who are always keen to tend to the needs of the less fortunate.

In the short time since its launch, the Suqia has become one of the most distinguished organisations for providing aid to the needy and distressed around the world. It has contributed to the UAE''s ever-growing global reputation for philanthropy, in addition to supporting sustainable development. The enthusiasm of the people, government, and private organisations in the UAE to contribute in the Foundation''s initiatives and extends helping hands to everyone, and reflects the key role of the UAE in humanitarian areas. The UAE will always be a hub for good deeds and the hearts of its people will always be open to extend their helping hands to everyone.

In cooperation with DEWA, Suqia''s R & D projects include reverse osmosis of seawater by a photovoltaic desalination plant, and water purification using solar technology with a capacity of 7.7 cubic meters per day. Suqia uses solar energy to desalinate seawater at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is capable of storing electricity at 50 cubic metres per day.

In 2015, Suqia launched 6 projects to provide safe drinking water in Somalia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Ghana, and Benin, benefitting over 60,000 people. Suqia provided relief assistance to Yemen in cooperation with the Ministry of Development and International Cooperation. According to the Ministry, the number of beneficiaries was 1,087,500. In the UAE, a number of campaigns were launched to distribute water to Ramadan tents and mosques in collaboration with nine local associations and charities in the UAE.

"This year during the Holy Month of Ramadan, Suqia aims to reflect an image that enhances the Dubai, and the UAE''s position as a hub for humanitarianism and philanthropy. Suqia works alongside 14 charitable organisations in the UAE. Clean water was distributed to mosques and Ramadan tents throughout the UAE," said Mohammed Abdul Kareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. The initiative has allocated US$1 million to find sustainable solutions to water shortages internationally, particularly by using solar energy for desalination and purification. Suqia manages the award under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

"The National Innovation Strategy, was also launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to make the UAE one of the most innovative nations in the world, and focuses on seven national sectors to stimulate innovation. These include encouraging innovative solutions to the challenge of water scarcity. This Award will help to achieve this objective by driving the search for sustainable solutions to address water scarcity around the world. It encourages leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovators from across the world to compete to find sustainable and innovative solar-energy solutions to the problem of water scarcity," said Al Shamsi "This supports the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. We invite companies, scientific organisations, research centres, and innovators, to present their innovative projects and participate in the award. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award comprises of three categories. These are the Innovative Projects Award (Small and Large projects), the Innovative Research and Development Award (National and International institutions), and the Innovative Youth Award. Suqia is accepting applications from 22 March 2016 to 31 July 2016," he added.

Suqia has promoted the award in the Netherlands, India, Frankfurt, London, Milan, China, and Russia, in addition to promoting the award at various international events such as COP21 in Paris, activities and meetings that coincided with the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Solar Decathlon in California, USA, and the Carbon Ambassadors Programme, in Dubai, UAE.

All government and private organisations in the UAE, in addition to Suqia''s long list of achievements, enhance the UAE''s position. The UAE ranked as the world''s largest donor of official development aid, and also ranked first as the world''s largest donor of official development aid and gross national income for the second year consecutively, according to the latest report from the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The UAE also participates in initiatives and humanitarian aid, to improve the living conditions of poor and affected communities in various countries, and help achieve sustainable development.