The value of developmental, humanitarian, and charity aid extended by the UAE from 1971 to 2014 stands at Dh174 billion ($47.36 billion), covering 21 sectors in 178 countries worldwide, according to a new report.

These statistics were announced by Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) in a special report launched on the 44th UAE National Day, to highlight the country's efforts in providing international aid, and the initiatives of its leadership provided through donor institutions to improve the lives of millions of people.

These efforts gave the UAE the title of the "most generous country in the world" in the years 2013 and 2014.

The records released by the ministry show that the largest percentage of aid is concentrated in the "government and civil society" sector, amounting to Dh80.6 billion, followed by the "public programmes support" sector with a total of Dh22.5 billion in aid. The value of humanitarian and relief aid in emergency situations accounted for about Dh8.5 billion.

According to the latest information released by the ministry, the Asian continent was the main beneficiary of support and aid money provided during the past 44 years, with a total exceeding Dh80 billion dirhams, followed by the African continent with a total value of Dh75.5 billion used in development projects such as the construction of housing complexes, roads, and bridges, as well as power generation and others.

In a related context, the combined statistics for the past 44 years showed that government aid accounted for 74 per cent of the total value of aid and grants provided by donors in the country, collectively worth Dh129 billion. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development came in second place with contributions worth Dh30.5 billion, followed by the Emirates Red Crescent with funding valued at Dh5.7 billion, then Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation with charities worth Dh2.9 billion.

The value of development projects and support provided by UAE donor institutions to children over the past 44 years amounted to about Dh2 billion, which were distributed among the health and education sectors, as well as relief programmes and infrastructure.

UAE largest donor to Yemen

In the framework of ongoing humanitarian development in Yemen, the United Arab Emirates played a pivotal role in responding to humanitarian crises on the ground in Yemen, thus becoming the number one donor of humanitarian aid in Yemen globally, according to data released by the UN Financial Tracking Service (FTS).

The total UAE foreign aid granted to Yemen until the end of October last year amounted to about Dh1.3 billion, including Dh844.2 million of disbursed aid and Dh494.7 million for infrastructure rehabilitation projects to be implemented in Yemen.

Humanitarian intervention in Syria

In a similar context, Syria has had a large share of UAE aid and support. The UAE was at the forefront of countries which came to the aid of the brothers in Syria since 2012.

The UAE’s response to the crisis in Syria and in countries hosting Syrian refugees like Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt, including Palestinian refugees in Syria – amounting to 1.5 million refugees and displaced people in total – stood at Dh2.14 billion ($583 million) to date.

Reconstruction of Gaza

During the meetings of the Cairo International Conference on Palestine held in October 2014, the UAE announced a pledge to donate about Dh736 million, equivalent to $200 million, aimed at the reconstruction of Gaza.

According to the ministry's report, the UAE has disbursed and allocated about $76.34 million of the total pledge of $200 million, while the remaining $123.56 million has been distributed according to the commitments agreed upon with the UAE donor institutions and sides, the largest part of which is managed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Foundation.

UAE aid to Egypt

The ministry's report said that the overall UAE development aid provided to Egypt during the years 2013 and 2014 amounted to nearly Dh29 billion, exceeding the total amount of expended UAE aid previously pledged by the State in support of economic and developmental stability in Egypt. The initial pledge made by the UAE was approximately Dh24 billion, but the disbursed funds exceeded Dh29 billion.

UAE aid to Pakistan

The UAE benevolence also extended to Pakistan, where the UAE Project to Assist Pakistan implemented development and humanitarian projects at a cost of $320 million to address the effects of the devastating floods that struck the country in 2010, reconstruct the infrastructure, and provide humanitarian aid, establishing a new phase of giving, cohesion, and solidarity with the people of Pakistan. The total cost of projects carried out by the Project to Assist Pakistan over the first and second phases is $320 million. – TradeArabia News Service