(Dubai) – Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presided over the inaugural meeting of the Humanitarian Consultative Council (HCC), which was held at Mina Al Salam Hotel in Dubai.
In attendance were H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), Dr. Nabil Al Arabi, Secretary General of the Arab League and Dr. Abdulatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Following the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed launched the ‘Dubai Humanitarian Statement,’ which reiterated the UAE’s readiness to face all regional and global challenges on social, humanitarian, economic and developmental fronts.
“Inspired by the determination of our wise leadership and the legacy of our founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, we continue the journey of excellence which enabled the UAE to become the world’s largest foreign aid donor, relative to gross national income,” he said.
Sheikh Mohammed underlined the increasingly growing global crises, with 21 disasters taking place last year, including 18 due to conflicts and three due to natural calamities. He added that international funds covered only 35 percent of emergency needs for over 20 million people who became refugees, while 60 million people were displaced around the world in 2015.
The meeting was attended by the members of the HCC, which is an initiative of the Dubai-based International Humanitarian City, part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation.
(Courtesy WAM)