DUBAI: The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) has pledged AED 60.6 million over the next year, in support of forcibly displaced persons. The funds will be offered in the form of direct food aid as well as sustainable livelihood programs in several countries around the world.
The announcement came during the Global Refugee Forum, held in Geneva, Switzerland from 12th to 15th December, and co-hosted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and the Government of Switzerland, in which MBRGI was a participant.
Of the MBRGI pledge, around AED 37 million will fund UNHCR’s humanitarian relief programs and sustainable development interventions in 8 countries, namely Armenia, Bangladesh, Botswana, India, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tunisia, in addition to AED 5.5 million that will facilitate UNHCR’s support and relief projects for Sudanese refugees in Chad, with a focus on addressing healthcare, water, and sanitation needs in refugee camps.
A further allocation of over AED 18 million will be directe
d to the World Food Program (WFP) to address urgent needs in the Gaza Strip.
Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary-General of MBRGI, said, ‘MBRGI continues to implement humanitarian aid and relief campaigns to support vulnerable and forcibly displaced populations around the world, in line with the visions and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to alleviate the suffering of those in need, and empower them to face the challenging conditions whether in their home countries or in host countries.’
He added, ‘MBRGI’s pledge of AED 60.6 million in support of UNHCR’s and WFP’s projects over the next year reflects its deep commitment to harness all capabilities and expertise in the area of humanitarian aid and relief in support of the UN efforts to provide the urgent needs of forcibly displaced persons, including food, medical care and shelter.’
He noted that MBRGI is ‘keen on buildi
ng effective partnerships with the United Nation and international organisations’, emphasising the importance of the collaboration with UNHCR in implementing vital projects that help achieve joint humanitarian objectives.
Saeed Al Eter, Assistant Secretary-General at MBRGI, commented, ‘Since its launch in 2015, MBRGI has endeavoured to provide humanitarian aid and relief to underprivileged populations, which is evident in all its humanitarian and charity initiatives, and projects across all pillars. Beneficiaries of MBRGI’s Humanitarian Aid projects amounted to 150.8 million people worldwide.
‘Today more than ever, the world needs to come together in helping forcibly displaced persons, whose numbers soared to 114 million people worldwide. These unprecedented numbers necessitate that international organisations adopt a new approach to address this challenge. This calls for an elevated level of cooperation among governments and humanitarian bodies to share expertise, finance projects to provide food, shelter,
education and medical care,’ Al Eter added.
He noted that the new pledge of AED 60.6 million by MBRGI in support of UNHCR is ‘an extension of a long-standing and fruitful partnership’, as they signed several agreements that helped provide direct food aid to refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people in several countries.
Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor to the High Commissioner and UNHCR Representative to the GCC, lauded MBRGI’s pledge of AED 60.6 million over the next year to support forcibly displaced populations.
‘To address the challenges refugees are facing, we need to work together. Millions of refugees live on the frontlines of climate change and flee due to compounding conflict and scarce resources, including food. Lots of forcibly displaced families struggle to secure the next meal for their families. Therefore, we highly appreciate MBRGI’s pledge, which will strengthen our ability to assist those in need either by directly providing them with food aid, or by helping them learn how to
grow their crops through sustainable livelihood projects,’ he stated.
The Global Refugee Forum is the world’s largest international gathering on refugee issues, bringing together UN Member States with relevant stakeholders, international and local organisations, civil society, financial institutions, academia and the private sector.
The second GRF convenes in Geneva from 13th to 15th December 2023, providing an opportunity to build on and highlight the progress made by Governments and other stakeholders towards the implementation of pledges and initiatives announced at the first GRF in 2019. It also offers a platform for participants to announce new pledges and share learning to inform and inspire further responsibility-sharing and facilitate comprehensive responses.
Source: Emirates News Agency