UAE telethon for flood victims raises Dh75m
A total amount of Dh75 million was collected on the final day of the three-day telethon campaign, dubbed Awnakum - Arabic for Your Help - organised by the UAE television and radio stations to raise funds for flood-affected people in Pakistan.
The telethon, was organised by the UAE Red Crescent Authority, in line with the directions of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It started on Wednesday and is aimed at raising funds to assist over 23 million people in the flood-hit Pakistan.
On its second running day Dh43 million including Dh500 through text messages till 11pm on Thursday.
The live TV campaign engaged national TV broadcasters Emarat, Noor Dubai, Sharjah 2, Ajman, Dunia Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Waha.
On the first day of the three-day telethon to collect urgently needed financial aid for the internally displaced persons, Dh25m in donations was raised.
Donations can be made by text message, phone or in person at the RCA's branches and commercial and call centres.
The flood victims need assistance in a number of sectors such as food, non-food items, shelter, health, water, sanitation, and protection.
The National Disaster Management Authority in Pakistan has identified a list of immediate needs: boats, tents, blankets, power generators, water filtration plants, dewatering pumps, medicines, hygiene kits, medical equipment and non-perishable food items.
Meanwhile, about 227 tonnes of dates and another 40 tonnes of food and sheltering assistance were airlifted by the UAE air bridge to Rahim Yar Khan, the RCA has announced.
Khamis Mohammed Al Suweidi, head of the RCA delegation in Multan in Pakistan, said a third relief plane carrying 100 tonnes of dates will be arriving in Islamabad shortly.
He added that UAE military aircrafts based in Multan military base were used to haul the relief items to areas that cannot be accessed by land transport.
He said that the RCA team had overseen the distribution of aid assistance to population who were evacuated from ten areas in the Punjab region to safe makeshift camps.
The RCA is also continuing preparations to establish a field hospital to provide treatment services for the flood victims in Pakistan thus taking medical help to far-flung areas and villages still under water.
The RCA medical team has made an assessment of the health situation in a number of villages and towns as well as in the makeshift camps.
An RCA medical team arrived in Islamabad on Thursday to implement a health preventive programme in coordination with the UNICEF.
The team met Dr Azhar Abid Raza, Health Specialist, UNICEF Pakistan Country Office, to discuss mechanisms of coordinating efforts for establishing a field hospital to work hand in hand with Ibrahimi hospital in Peshawar.
The UN official lauded the UAE efforts for assisting the Pakistani people at these delicate circumstances.
Later, the UAE Ambassador to Islamabad, Ali Al Awani, welcomed the chairman and members of the medical team and promised to extend all possible assistance to facilitate their humanitarian mission.
Leader of the team Dr Mohammed Shumais said the volunteer doctors will conduct a curative and preventive programme in floods-affected regions.
According to him, over 625,000 people including women and children will be vaccinated against diseases that are expected to spread due to lack of healthcare and clean drinking water like measles, cholera and tetanus.