85 development projects in 21 countries benefits about 553,370 people worldwide

Dubai, UAE: Under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) undertook great achievements and pioneering development projects in 21 countries around the world, with 85 development projects benefiting approximately 553,370 people, during the Year of Giving.

2017 was declared the Year of Giving by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. In the Year of Zayed 2018, Suqia aims to continue its charity and volunteer projects, around the world, under the guidance of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, under the law issued by His Highness in March 2015, establishing Suqia as a non-profit organization. This is part of a regulatory framework, to increase Suqia’s positive results. Suqia managed to provide clean drinking water to over 7 million people around the world. These projects are currently being implemented in cooperation with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority.

“Suqia was committed to achieving the objectives of the Year of Giving, and and will continue in the Year of Zayed, which was declared by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. We work according to the approach established by our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to promote sustainable development in poor and needy communities. At Suqia, we are committed to achieving the objectives set by the MBRGI, to combat poverty and disease by contributing to finding permanent and sustainable solutions to water scarcity.  By the end of 2017, Suqia had implemented projects providing drinking water to more than 8 million people, in 25 countries worldwide, in collaboration with a number of leading charity organisations. This supports Suqia’s commitment to adhere to the guidance of our wise leadership to promote humanitarian work,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia.

“In 2017, Suqia implemented 85 projects to provide drinking water to more than 550,000 people in 21 countries around the world. This is in cooperation with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment, under the umbrella of the MBRGI. The solutions were tailored to meet the needs of the communities, according to the geographical and environmental characteristics of each country, including solutions such as drilling artesian wells, extending water networks, providing refrigerators and water tanks, and establishing water storage stations near springs,” said Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia.

Risalat Khair in Tajikistan

Suqia launched a sustainable development project to provide clean drinking water to more than 15,000 people. This was launched by DEWA, in cooperation with Suqia and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment, to promote humanitarian development and sustainable work outside the UAE. This is part of Suqia’s efforts, under the umbrella of the MBRGI, to achieve its comprehensive vision aimed at philanthropic work.

The project included the opening and inspection of a 70 metre artesian well in a remote region of Tajikistan, which was also established by Suqia in 2015 and to provide clean drinking water to more than 15,000 people.

A journey of doing good to Upper Egypt

Suqia and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment concluded their voluntary campaign to implement sustainable development and humanitarian projects in the governorates of Qena, Luxor, and Aswan, in Upper Egypt. The campaign was attended by a group of volunteers, from DEWA, as well as media professionals, in cooperation with the Dubai Press Club. The campaign aimed to achieve the objectives of the Year of Giving 2017, and prepare for the Year of Zayed 2018.

The campaign lasted eight days, and included projects for the installation of clean water distribution networks, in Kom Ombo and Khor Awada area, Hagar village in Armant, and other villages in Upper Egypt. It also laid the foundation stone for the installation of two domestic water filters in Abu Rish Qebli, in Aswan, and Naga Al-Gharb in Luxor. Moreover, it also included several operational projects, by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment. These consisted of distributing fishing boats and yarn for fishing, as well as sewing machines and blankets for villagers. A total of 170,000 people benefitted from these projects.

Supporting ‘For your Sake, Somalia’ campaign

As part of its efforts in the Year of Giving, and in support of the ‘For your Sake, Somalia’ campaign, launched by the Emirates Red Crescent, Suqia implemented two projects to provide drinking water to more than 90,000 people in Somalia, in cooperation with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment. Suqia’s first project, in Ufayn in the eastern region of Somalia, included building a 300-cubic-metre water collection point near the water springs at the foot of the mountain and 600 cubic metre water reservoirs. The project also included repairing and replacing the three-kilometre pipeline network. Solar-powered pumps were provided to pump water from the ground reservoir to an elevated water tank in the town. The project makes it easier for residents to access potable water, reducing the distance they have to travel to obtain water for drinking, irrigation, or livestock. The project will benefit about 50,000 people in towns and neighbouring villages.

The second project involved drilling an artesian well in the Lower Shabelle province in Somalia, and the installation of pipes and an electric pump. The project will provide over 40,000 people with clean water, alleviating residents’ suffering in getting water, and limiting diseases that could spread as a result of drinking contaminated water.

Awareness campaigns for schools in Dubai

In partnership with DEWA and Surge, Suqia organised an awareness programme for elementary and middle school students from the public and private sector in Dubai. The programme aimed to raise awareness among future generations about the global water crisis and water scarcity, as well as teach youth about sustainability, and rationalisation of resources. In 2017, 997 students benefitted from the programme, during 5 field visits and other events.

The programme included a virtual trip around the world to identify the problem of water scarcity and the challenges facing millions of people around the world to obtain clean water. During the course of the programme, each student will receive his/her passport, which gets stamped after the completion of each stage. Students also participate in interactive and educational activities, and games, to promote environmentally friendly behaviour, conserve natural resources, and rationalise water consumption. The activities include water footprint, water competitions, seeds of hope, and others.

Ramadan campaign

In 2017, Suqia distributed 7.7 million cups of water to mosques and Ramadan tents, in the seven Emirates, in cooperation with 13 local charity organisations and associations, during the Holy Month of Ramadan. This is part of Suqia’s efforts to provide safe drinking water for the people fasting during the Holy Month.

Suqia’s projects .. a push towards R&D

In addition to its commitment to its charitable and humanitarian responsibilities to provide clean water to the needy around the world, Suqia plays a key role in promoting investment to explore ways of water purification using solar energy to meet the growing demand for water and contribute to sustainable development. Some of its most prominent projects, in this field, are the reverse osmosis of seawater by a photovoltaic desalination plant and water purification using solar technology, in cooperation with DEWA, with a capacity of 7.7 cubic metres per day, enough to meet the needs of 1,540 people. Furthermore, there is the solar-powered water pumping and desalination station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which uses photovoltaic solar panels to desalinate water with Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology, with a production capacity of 50 cubic metres a day, to meet the needs of 10,000 people.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award

Suqia oversees the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, worth USD 1 million. The Award was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to encourage research institutions, individuals, and innovators worldwide, to find sustainable and innovative solutions for water scarcity using solar energy.  The award has three categories: Innovative Projects Award, Innovative Research & Development Award, and Innovative Youth Award.

The first edition of the Award received wide attention locally and internationally. The Award received 138 applications from 43 countries, from research centres, institutions, and individuals. The number of participants is expected to double in the next edition, which will introduce a new criterion to attract sustainable projects and technologies to produce clean drinking water.

International recognitions for the UAE in the field of humanitarian work

In 2016, Suqia’s efforts in the field of humanitarian work, along with various local public and private organisations, culminated in the UAE occupying the first place, globally, for providing worldwide humanitarian aid, and occupying the first place globally as one of the largest international donors in the field of official development assistance compared to its gross national income (GNI). This is according to the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED). In addition, for the fourth year running, the UAE maintained its position as one of the largest international donors in the field of official development assistance. The UAE spent approximately AED 15.23 billion worth of development assistance in 2016, which is equivalent to 1.12% of its GNI, of which 54% was provided in the form of grants.

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© Press Release 2018