Haya calls on world governments to end hunger
UN reports predict close to 250m people will be subject to displacement in the next decade
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, Wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, called for the establishment of a data bank for humanitarian logistics at the Humanitarian City in Dubai, and called on all governments to gather data in order to work together in advancing the field of humanitarian assistance.
Princess Haya addressed the issue of humanitarian aid at the World Government Summit, stating that ending world hunger is a political and economic imperative.
She pointed out that more than 65 million people have been displaced from their homes due to conflicts in several regions in the world, including Yemen, Syria and Nigeria.
“UN reports predict that around 250 million people will be subjected to displacement as a result of climate change and war within the next decade,” said Princess Haya.
She referred to the traditional system of aid, which was used to help those affected by the Second World War, as one that is still used today. Princess Haya further emphasised the need for governments, NGOs, and other organisations to look outside the box, away from traditional methods of aid assistance, and to rely on technology and innovation to speed up humanitarian response times.
“When the UN decided to evacuate their staff from Kabul, the UAE was capable of accomplishing the task in three hours,” she said. Princess Haya also referred to the use of drones to deliver aid to remote areas of Africa, as another innovative method of rapid aid response.
UAE most generous
According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the UAE is one of the most generous donors of foreign aid in the world, reporting an increase of 34 per cent in foreign aid in 2015, which reached Dh32 billion, the equivalent of $8.8 billion.
“The UAE will continue to be, in the Year of Giving, one of the most humanitarian countries in the world,” said Princess Haya.
She referred to devastating statistics showing the total amount of required aid in the world has increased to $22 billion (Dh80.81 billion), 10 times the amount needed in 2000.
“There are still 800 million people suffering from the worst kind of hunger and poverty. The poor and the hungry do not think about anything but how to gain their daily bread,” said Princess Haya.
She highlighted that the UAE is establishing a state for the future, which embodies innovative solutions for humanitarian aid.
On the topic of world hunger, Princess Haya explained the latest UN reports, which show the amount of wasted food adds up to $2.6 trillion a year, enough to feed the world population three times. “Our plan of action on a humanitarian level will first start by putting a total end to world hunger so that it reaches zero per cent, then fighting poverty through development and transparency,” she added. “Humanitarian aid is our responsibility; this is humanity,” she said.