United Nations applauds 'Dubai Cares' for initiative on education

According to Abdulaziz Bin Mohamed Arrukban, the UN Secretary General's Special Humanitarian Envoy, 'Dubai Cares' campaign deserves international recognition for displaying the highest level of commitment in responding to the plight of the children.

The statements were made in a UN communiqué addressed to 'Dubai Cares', which stated: 'The expedient action and the timely decision to assist the children in the long run is a strong message that Dubai has conveyed to the families of those children and the entire world.

'Dubai's support is the first international humanitarian response to the plight of the 103 children in Chad. The credit for this goes to the magnanimity of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and the prompt, effective action of the Dubai Cares delegation.'

Delivering 15 tonnes of much needed aid in the form of food, medicine, clothing and toys to the children, the Dubai Cares delegation included a medical team which conducted check-ups on the children and recommended appropriate treatment.

The humanitarian intervention is the first in a series of steps taken by the 'Dubai Cares' campaign to build schools and provide a sustainable environment for children and their communities. By organising community-based education programmes, 'Dubai Cares' seeks to prevent the recurrence of similar situations elsewhere and provide poor countries with an effective roadmap for progress.

The communiqué particularly mentioned the circumstances involved in the displacement of the children. It said: 'They are facing the terrible experience of being separated from their families after being misled with promises of education.'

In an interview broadcast on a global news network, the parents of the victims claimed the children were promised education. The willingness of the families to give up their children on the grounds of education validates the top priority given to learning by these communities. This has further vindicated 'Dubai Cares' stand that education is the best, long-term solution to poverty and the most effective engine for national development and stability.

Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in September, the Dubai Cares programme is Dubai's contribution to a global drive to help countries achieve their U.N. Millennium Development Goals of providing primary education to every child by 2015.