UAE donates 15 buses to sports clubs and schools in Yemen
Ship carrying vehicles for Hadramout, Shabwa and Marib governorates reaches Yemeni port
AUAE cargo ship carrying 15 buses to support schools and sporting clubs in Yemen’s Hadramout, Shabwa and Marib governorates arrived at Al Mukalla port yesterday.
Ahmad Al Niyadi, deputy head of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) team in Hadramout, said the delivery of these buses was part of the UAE’s continuous support to restore stability to the liberated Yemeni governorates, and to alleviate the suffering of the country’s citizens.
Through the UAE’s continued support to the people of Yemen, the ERC will forge ahead with implementing its various projects in infrastructure, education and humanitarian relief, he added.
Since the outbreak of the Yemeni crisis, the UAE has been keen to start the process of restoring hope and providing humanitarian assistance to Yemen’s citizens, by improving infrastructure and supporting the health and education sectors within the country, Al Niyadi said.
The aid shipment follows the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to support schools, sporting clubs, and public transport in a number of Yemeni governorates, as part of the ‘99 Buses’ initiative.
Earlier this year, the UAE donated $100 million to support Yemen during 2017, and vowed unwavering support for the Yemeni people.
Unwavering support
Since April 2015, the UAE has provided more than $2 billion to support humanitarian operations, development and reconstruction in various sectors including infrastructure, health care and housing across Yemen. The aid had benefited 10 million Yemenis of whom four million were children.
The aid included 172,000 tonnes of food supplies to address severe food shortages, polio vaccines for 488,000 children, medicines, medical supplies and ambulances for Aden, Taiz and Hodeida, Al Shamsi noted.
The UAE also rebuilt or restored more than 270 schools and 40 hospitals and clinics across Yemen, the Riyan Airport in Hadramout province, as well as an airport and a seaport on Socotra Island to facilitate humanitarian delivery.
Work is under way to restore the strategic Mokha Port that was liberated from rebel militias to use it as an additional port for delivering humanitarian aid in Taiz.