Sharjah 24 – WAM: Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, affirmed that the UAE is closely following the difficult humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, noting that the UAE joins the international community in appealing to cooperate further to solve this humanitarian crisis.
The UAE also extends a helping hand to provide basic needs for people worldwide, especially women and children, in such current global circumstances, which have exacerbated the situation in many other countries of the region that are already suffering from deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
This came during the participation of Al Marar in the ministerial conference aiming to mobilise international support for the Afghan people, and achieve peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. The conference, which was organised by the governments of Qatar, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United Nations, was attended by governmental representatives and international civil society organisations.
During the conference, Al Marar underscored that the UAE is among the largest donors to Afghanistan to help overcome its natural or war-induced crises. Since 2021, the total value of UAE aid to Afghanistan has reached around USD 200 million, Al Marar added.
Moreover, the UAE inaugurated a relief air bridge by operating planes loaded with hundreds of tonnes of food items, benefiting more than one million people, mostly women, children and the elderly. Additionally, the UAE helped evacuate more than 41,000 Afghans and foreign nationals during the month of August, and hosted thousands of Afghan families who have been temporarily evacuated from Afghanistan, pending their relocation to other countries. The UAE has also provided medical supplies to support the country in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister of State, Al Marar, concluded by underscoring that the UAE believes in the importance of continuing support and intense focus on relief efforts to restore stability and boost recovery as part of a more comprehensive strategy in collaboration with regional partners and the international community. Moreover, he underscored the importance of seeking to support humanitarian efforts aiming to provide girls' education.