Dubai businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor has donated Dhs10 million to a campaign titled: ’They appealed for help and we answered their call’ organised by the Red Crescent Authority.
The project was organised to assist the Syrians who have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries because of the current political and social upheaval in their homeland.
A cheque for the sum of Dhs10 million was handed to Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui, the Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority, by Khalaf Al Habtoor on February 13, 2012.
Al Habtoor praised the role the Red Crescent Authority, under the leadership of his Highness Sheikh Hamdan Ben Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler’s representative in the Western region and the Chairman of the Commission for the Improvement of the Conditions of the Syrian Brothers and the Ease of their Suffering, has played in Syria. He also pointed out that it is a cause which is particularly close to his heart.
He added that the Red Crescent has already shown its competence in dealing with the people of Syria through its immediate response to the crisis.
In such situations, he said, we as a nation have a national and a personal moral responsibility to help our Syrian brothers and sisters who are facing dire humanitarian conditions. This donation is an act of solidarity he added.
This is not the first time Al Habtoor has donated generously to such appeals. In fact it is typical of his response to humanitarian disasters around the world.
Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui expressed appreciation for the donation, on behalf of the Red Crescent and pointed out that it will help the humanitarian efforts of the Red Crescent considerably in providing for Syrians who have fled to such countries as Jordan and Lebanon, as well as further afield.
He added that it may encourage others to donate to this very worthy cause and pointed out that Al Habtoor has always been a strong supporter of the projects run by Red Crescents Authority. He noted that Khalaf Al Habtoor recently gave a large number of company vehicles to the people Gaza, Palestine, adding that the company sets an example to other UAE establishments in this regard.
The Red Crescent Authority, he said, will provide food, water and accommodation for the people of Syria, as well as looking after their health and educational needs.
He appealed to other companies to follow Al Habtoor’s lead by donating to the cause and he praised the Al Habtoor Group for its on-going support of humanitarian work in general.
Such has been the overwhelming response so far to the plight of the Syrian people, that donations continue to arrive from all over the world, including the UAE.
The UAE Red Crescent Authority says it will continue the campaign for some time and it is urging people to donate what they can.