Once again, the UAE proves how it uses its heart to abide by its principles of humanitarianism. The launch of Tarahamu, or the UAE Compassion campaign, is another example of how the country upholds its time-honoured tradition of offering speedy, generous and timely assistance to the most needy.
The campaign — launched on Tuesday, following the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan — is a lifeline for the thousands of Syrian refugees in camps in Jordan and Lebanon whose plight is being further tested by the vagaries of nature.
As you read this, the impending snowstorm Huda threatens to worsen the living conditions for more than 1.1 million refugees in Lebanon and 60,000 refugees in Jordan. These people need food, clothing and warmth to live through the winter and it is humanitarianism and not political parlays that will come to their help.
The UAE knows and understands this like no other country in the world and in remaining so deeply conscious of the needs of others amidst its own plenty and stability, it has rightfully earned the honour of being the world’s largest donor of official development assistance.
In 2013, it offered $5.4 billion (Dh19.86 billion), representing 1.34 per cent of its gross national income, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
It is a staggering achievement for a country so young and the finest example of how progress can be the incubator for humanitarianism, the warmth of which is reaching out to comfort and nurture a million cold and desolate people at this very moment.
