A U.A.E. paper has commended the decision of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to launch the U.A.E. Water Aid campaign.
"The drive, launched on Saturday, will provide access to fresh drinking water for five million persons around the world who suffer from a shortage of potable water," said The Gulf Today in its editorial on Sunday.
It continued, "More than three million people around the world die annually due to lack of access to fresh drinking water. The United Nations statistics also confirm that 85 per cent of the world s population lives in areas of drought, roughly half of the globe, and that 783 million people around the world lack clean water." "The campaign, which coincides with the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan, will involve the digging of wells and providing water pumps to areas in need of water purification equipment." During the launch of the water campaign, Sheikh Mohammed said that: "The U.A.E. is a capital of humanitarian activities and that the advent of Ramadan witnesses the birth of humanitarian initiatives in the U.A.E. benefiting the needy. He added that the U.A.E. welcomes the generous month of Ramadan with charitable initiatives and extends its hands to the underprivileged." "In the Holy Month was revealed the Holy Book, which changed the way man thought. Once and for all. And the driving spirit of that heavenly expression was help who need your help and share what can be shared. And the U.A.E.'s leadership is practically, clearly and admirably living out that divine directive," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.