Dubai: A high number of UAE residents believe in helping others in times of crisis, according to a new survey by a Dubai manufacturer of goods for the humanitarian aid and development sectors.

The firm, NRS International, did not reveal the number of respondents in its survey group but said 73 per cent of those who took part said they had made a donation to an international humanitarian cause in the last year.

A further 80 per cent of respondents said they are likely to continue their support of international causes in the coming year with an even higher number of 86 per cent of respondents saying it is critical to contribute during natural disasters or war.

As much as 43 per cent of respondents said they donated in excess of $100 each year.

The findings of the survey titled “Humanitarianism in the UAE” were released on Sunday ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20 every year.

“Countries across the world need our help to end the suffering of millions of people, and we applaud the massive contribution made by people living in the UAE,” said Farhaj Sarwar, managing director, NRS International in a statement.

“As a developer and manufacturer of relief items such as refugee tents, tarpaulins, blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets and solar lights, we are proud to be based in Dubai, a true global humanitarian hub. As a private sector company, we commit to support the great humanitarian spirit in the UAE by offering products that provide shelter and dignity to those who have fled their homes.”

“World Refugee Day is a time for us all to reflect on the refugees and displaced people around the world who bear terrible burdens through no fault of their own. As part of the humanitarian community, we follow a strong corporate social responsibility agenda and our foundation donated $1.75 million to various educational, public health and refugee projects,” said Nicole Malick, corporate social responsibility manager, NRS International, in a statement.

The study also discovered that one in four respondents in the UAE were found to have family or friends affected by a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis. Despite this direct exposure to the effects of such emergencies, the majority of respondents either underestimated or were unaware of the true scale of the current humanitarian crisis, the most serious since the end of World War II. A staggering 60 million people, representing one in every 122 humans, is now either a refugee, internally displaced, or seeking asylum.

The firm said that according to the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the UAE was the biggest donor of foreign aid in 2014 and the NRS International study reiterated the continued commitment and positive attitude of residents across the UAE.

The study was conducted in early June by YouGov market research.