The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) has provided over 7.5 million people with clean drinking water by end of 2016, according to a top official.

''Suqia has launched a number of projects and initiatives to provide clean drinking water to underprivileged countries around the world and has provided over 7.5 million people with clean drinking water by the end of 2016, in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation," remarked Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia.

His remarks come as the international community celebrates the World Water Day 2017 today (March 22).

The key beneficiary countries included Ghana, Uganda, Somalia, Tajikistan, Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal.

As part of the project, Suqia dug wells in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Benin, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Thailand and Burkina Faso during the first quarter of 2017.

"These projects will benefit 121,920 individuals," stated Al Tayer.

''On the occasion of World Water Day, Suqia, under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, renews its support and commitment to raising awareness among the community, about the importance of finding sustainable solutions to drought and water scarcity in underprivileged countries, while highlighting the role of renewable energy in achieving sustainable development, he added.-TradeArabia News Service