UAE Cabinet approves International Red Cross office in Abu Dhabi

The UAE Cabinet on Sunday approved an agreement for the International Committee of the Red Cross to open an office in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed bin RashidThe vice president and prime minister tweeted that the decision, along with several others, had been approved.

The UAE and humanitarian organisations initially signed the agreement in July.

Claire Dalton, head of the ICRC delegation in the UAE, said the organisation was delighted to have an official relationship with the UAE.

“The agreement secures our legal status in the UAE, defines the framework for our relationship and paves the way for further cooperation and dialogue with the authorities,” she said.

This GenevaThe Dubai-based agency already operates in the international humanitarian city.

“The UAE provides an ideal venue to discuss innovations in humanitarian action, and the country will host the ICRC’s first water and energy centre, which is currently being set up at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park,” Ms Dalton said.

“We share similar aspirations for sustainable development, protecting the environment and promoting climate action, and we look forward to discussing these issues with the UAE.

“The UAE is a member of our Donor Support Group and has been a generous partner of the ICRC. We look forward to further humanitarian cooperation with the authorities.”

in May, Sheikh Hamdan bin ZayedThe representative of the ruler of the Al Dafra region and the chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Society said that the UAE is one of the world’s major donors and supporters of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

“The UAE has become a regional hub for support, supply and logistics in the field of emergency humanitarian relief, and is also the permanent headquarters of many international humanitarian organisations that have found a suitable location in the UAE to manage their relief operations in neighbouring areas,” Sheikh Ha Mdan said. He was speaking ahead of World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on 8 May.

“The UAE has a good infrastructure that enables it to play this important role,” he said. Sheikh Hamdan said, “The convoy departed from the UAE and travelled by road, sea and air to various countries and regions experiencing crises and natural disasters until it became one of the world’s foremost humanitarian aid actors and donors “.

In 2020, 14.9 million Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers provided disaster and other emergency response to more than 688 million people, 306 million participated in health-related activities, and 125 million participated in clean water and sanitation assistance.

Updated: September 12, 2022 at 2:51 pm