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Abu Dhabi / WAM
The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), provided emergency humanitarian assistance worth AED10 million to Venezuelan refugees in Colombia, including 75,000 food parcels, medical supplies, and medicines benefiting 375,000 refugees.
The move follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the follow up of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the ERC.
The directives of the wise leadership are part of the humanitarian and development efforts undertaken by the UAE in the international arena based on its principles and approach in providing assistance to all those in need.
An ERC delegation arrived in the Colombian capital, Bogota, to implement the directives of the UAE’s leadership and its management to supervise the distribution of aid to refugees who are stranded on the border between Venezuela and Colombia.
Following its arrival, the delegation began coordinating with relevant authorities in Colombia, to provide assistance to refugees, especially the border city of Cucuta, which receives thousands of refugees daily.
The delegation’s efforts led to the signing of an agreement between the ERC and the Crisis and Disaster Management Office in Colombia, to improve the available services to refugees and provide for their basic needs, as part of the UAE’s initiative to improve their conditions and ease their suffering.
The agreement was signed by Saeed Suhail Al Mazrouei, Director of the Relief and Disaster Administration, and Juan Carlos, Deputy Director of the National Unit For Disaster Risks Management. The UAE Ambassador to Colombia, Salem Rashid Al Owais, was also present during the signing.
Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary-General of the ERC, said that the directives of the UAE leadership aims to improve the humanitarian conditions of refugees and support Colombia’s efforts to host them.
He added that H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the ERC, is monitoring the aid authority’s plans to support refugees and enlarge the scope of its beneficiaries.
He went on to note that the UAE has become a global leader in emergency and crisis situations, as its activities have assisted those suffering from crises and disasters, regardless of their location.
Al Falahi explained that the ERC will conduct a range of humanitarian missions in Colombia, provide aid to refugees, perform a field survey to explore the conditions of refugees, and design the appropriate programmes.
Venezuela is currently witnessing an unprecedented economic and humanitarian crisis, resulting in the exodus of millions of Venezuelans into Colombian borders.