H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, has renewed the UAE’s commitment to its humanitarian responsibilities towards the people in Yemen, based on the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Hamdan stated that the UAE will spare no effort in offering support to limit the consequences of the current events affecting Yemenis while stressing that the situation in Yemen faces considerable challenges, which requires further support and combined humanitarian efforts, to limit the suffering of those affected.

The ERC is expanding its relief and development efforts in Yemen, to include the city of Al Khawkhah and the areas of the country’s West Coast, which was recently liberated by the Arab Coalition Forces with the support of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed added.

Sheikh Hamdan noted that the ERC has been working effectively in Yemen since the start of the 1990s, to assist those affected by disasters and crises to overcome their humanitarian circumstances through its programmes. "Our nation’s ERC is one of the first humanitarian organisations that was present in Yemen, to offer support to all categories of vulnerable people without discrimination," he further added.

He also stressed that the ERC has strengthened its presence in Yemen, through implementing development projects to improve the level of basic health and education services and provide clean drinking water, electricity and essential infrastructure services.

Sheikh Hamdan affirmed the important role of charitable Emirati people and donors to Yemen, through the ERC. The ERC’s initiatives in Yemen would not have seen the light of day, and Yemenis would not have enjoyed them, without the generous support offered by these charitable people, he explained.

The ERC has launched a campaign to expand its rescue operations in the liberated areas of Yemen’s West Coast, which includes distributing 10,000 food baskets.

During the previous period, these areas were besieged by the militias, which resulted in their worsening humanitarian, living, health and environmental conditions.

The value of the ERC’s humanitarian and development assistance to the people of Yemen during the period between March 2015 and October 2017 has reached AED1,540,647,343, including rescue operations and health, educational, social, services and infrastructure projects.