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Mohammed delivers OCFA foreign aid report
30 June 2010
UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum delivered the inaugural annual report for the UAE Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA) at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi today.
The report was presented in the presence of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Finance Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and President of the UAE Foreign Aid Coordination Office Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, other sheikhs, ministers, senior officials and chairmen and directors of charitable and humanitarian organisations throughout the UAE.
Following a rendition of the national anthem, the attendees watched a documentary film on the various humanitarian projects and initiatives launched by the UAE to provide for the poor and needy around the world.
Released by the Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA), led by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, the report revealed that UAE Government and Emirati donor organisations donated more than Dh8.9 billion in foreign aid in 2009.
During the launch, Sheikh Mohammed announced a provisional figure of Dh163bn as the amount given by the Government and UAE donors since 1971. One of the OCFA’s main projects entails collating all of the UAE’s historical aid data since the country was formed.
''The UAE has given nearly Dh9 billion to more than 90 countries throughout 2009,'' Sheikh Mohammed said in his address, adding that funds have gone towards projects to help ''the poor and the weak''.
''This is linked to our history, religion and heritage,'' he added.
Sheikh Mohammed also stressed that the UAE's philanthropic efforts were begun by the late Sheikh Zayed, whose wife Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak is also well known for her humanitarian work.
Today, she was named Person of the Year for Support to the Foreign Aid Sector, an award handed out for the first time by OCFA.
The single biggest recipient of aid from the UAE was Yemen, according to the report, with over Dh2.8bn in assistance. Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Palestinian Territories were also among the main recipients of assistance in 2009.
The report found that the vast majority of the aid was given in the form of grants to humanitarian and development projects in 92 countries.
Eighty-seven per cent of the funds were directed to countries in Asia, according to the report, with 10 per cent, or Dh911 million, donated to projects in Africa.
The Middle East region received the most assistance, with the UAE contributing over Dh4.6bn in foreign aid in 2009.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) was the largest UAE donor organisation, giving Dh4.9bn in grants and loans. The UAE Government was the second largest donor, contributing more than Dh3 billion.
The funds were directed to projects from the provision of emergency food aid to major infrastructure and development initiatives.
Handing out prizes to award winners representing 21 donor organisations, Sheikh Mohammed paid tribute to their contributions throughout 2009.