Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has instructed Dubai Cares, a UAE-based philanthropic establishment, to provide educational assistance to the children of Haiti.

The initiative comes in the wake of the devastating earthquake that has affected over one million primary school–aged children in Haiti, a statement said.

“Under Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s direction, Dubai Cares will provide immediate assistance to 200,000 children in Haiti through our international partners Care International, Save the Children, Plan International and UNICEF who are currently on the ground in Haiti,” said Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares.

“After this devastating disaster, the children are in great need of very basic educational requirements and we will be working diligently to ensure that the post disaster needs of the primary education sector are addressed,” he added.

Navaraj Guwlani, regional director of CARE Middle East and Europe said: “Through the generous support of its partners on the ground, Dubai Cares has once again exhibited a coordinated and effective partnership approach in its program work and emergency response."

"Together, we are working on delivering a strategic and effective long term program that will address the needs of the children of Haiti and help rebuild their lives," Gulwani added.

According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance 2010 Haiti Earthquake Flash Appeal, “Children and youth from poor and vulnerable families are thought to be most in need of urgent assistance.

“Teachers and educational personnel have inevitably been killed and injured in the earthquake and suffered severe losses. In addition, it is estimated that a high number of young children (about 25 per cent of the affected population) are in immediate need of support. Education will play a major role, not only for ensuring children go back to school but also for those who were already out of school. According to the available data, almost 50 per cent of Haiti’s school-aged children were out of school prior to the earthquake.”

Dubai Cares will continue to identify and explore areas in which we can help bring the Haitian children back to the protective environment of school, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service