Sheikha al-Qasimi, UN delegation discuss opening UN Office in UAE

Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, MICAD, Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, discussed with a delegation from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs the benefits of opening a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Relief Operations in the Gulf region, based in the UAE.

Sheikha Lubna welcomed this step as an extension to on-going international efforts to support relief and humanitarian aid operations in the region, through the integration of experiences and capabilities and the unification of efforts to achieve humanitarian goals.

This came during a meeting between Sheikha Lubna and Kang Kyung-Wha, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, and her accompanying delegation, at MICAD headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikha Lubna reiterated that the UAE is keen to build and strengthen partnerships with international institutions involved in development and humanitarian work, in line with the directives of the wise leadership of the state.

The Minister, on the sidelines of the meeting, discussed the efforts and contributions of UAE humanitarian institutions and donors, and their urgent response to situations resulting from humanitarian crises in various regions of the world.

Sheikha Lubna said that the UAE is looking forward to strengthening partnership channels with UN committees and commissions through supporting international development and humanitarian response, the exchange of experiences, and mobilising efforts in all relief areas.

The meeting discussed joint efforts by both sides in responding to the crises in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, and shed light on the UAE's achievements in this regard.

Sheikha Lubna praised the efforts undertaken by the UN to support the international community, which has contributed to providing support to persons affected by conflicts and natural disasters.

Kang Kyung-Wha, commended the UAE's leading role in providing support and humanitarian aid to many communities and peoples of the world, especially in Syria and Yemen.

Kang said that the UAE's humanitarian presence in the world, and its strong and effective role towards all issues in the region, in addition to the continuous follow-up by the UAE's wise leadership, are factors that impacted the United Nations' decision to expand its relief efforts by opening the Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA) in the UAE.

The meeting was attended by Hazza Mohammed Falah Al Qahtani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development, Najla Al Kaabi, Under-Secretary Assistant for International Cooperation, Mohammed Al Ali, Director of Development Policy and Strategy, Rashid Khalikov, Director of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, and Said Hirsi, Administrator of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Arabian Gulf region.