UAE media unite to aid starving Somali children

ABU DHABI // A charity telethon to raise urgent aid for tens of thousands of Somali children facing starvation was launched yesterday.

Television and radio media across the UAE are supporting Emirates Red Crescent’s “For You, Somalia” campaign, broadcasting numbers that people can text to make a donation.

The campaign was broadcast on Abu Dhabi Television from 2pm to 4pm, on Dubai Television from 4pm to 6pm, on Sharjah Television from 6pm to 7.30pm, and again on Abu Dhabi Television from 7.30pm to 8pm. The Emirates Red Crescent this month launched the campaign to aid Somalis with food, water, medicine and other necessities to help them survive their third famine in 25 years.

It was acting under the directives of President Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

About 360,000 Somali children are estimated to be suffering from acute malnutrition, says the United Nations.

The public can donate on the Emirates Red Crescent’s website, www.rcuae.ae, or by sending a text message. Du subscribers can donate Dh10 by sending a text message to 7110, Dh50 to 7150, Dh100 to 7100 and Dh200 to 7200.

Etisalat users can donate Dh10 by sending a text message to 4010, Dh50 to 7050, Dh100 to 7100 and Dh200 to 7200. The campaign will be monitored by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent Authority.