Dubai ruler donates Dh60m to ‘Dress one million campaign’

July 31, 2013
dubai
Dubai: Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has donated Dh60 million to the ‘Dress one million needy children campaign’, providing clothing to an additional one and a half million needy children and totalling the number of beneficiaries to three million.

The campaign ended on Ramadan 19 in order to coincide with the ninth death anniversary of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Zayed Humanitarian Day, an annual event in memory of Shaikh Zayed.

Speaking on the end of the campaign Shaikh Mohammad said: “What made me happy the most was the spirit of giving that was spread throughout this holy month in our beloved country which came in light of Shaikh Zayed’s memory as well as people’s interaction to the campaign. This resulted in making three million children happy with the coming of Eid.”

He added that the campaign and the hundreds of other UAE initiatives that benefit millions of people around the world have succeeded in making the UAE the capital of giving and a charitable hand extending its assistance to all who are in need.

“The UAE will continue in fulfilling its Islamic and humanitarian duty in supporting deprived people. It is a path that was set by out founding fathers and God willing we will continue on this path. We will instil the spirit of giving in the coming generations so that the path of giving will continue being a key part of our future,” said Shaikh Mohammad.

The campaign which was launched on July 11 initially aimed to dress one million needy children around the world however after it succeeded in receiving the donations needed to achieve this target in just 10 days, Shaikh Mohammad ordered that the number of beneficiaries to increase.

Mohammad Abdullah Al Haj Zarouni, manager of Emirates Red Crescent’s Dubai branch which is implementing the campaign told Gulf News they have already provided clothing to one million children.

“The donation made by Shaikh Mohammad is no surprise as he is known for being a generous and kind leader. We have already dressed one million children and are currently working on reaching children in 46 countries,” said Zarouni.

Haj said that the countries and children reached so far by the campaign are: Bosnia 8,000 children, Senegal 20,000 children, Yemen 100,000 children and India where they started distributing clothing to the 200,000 children. In Albania they started distributing the clothes to 5,000 children, Egypt 100,000 children, Lebanon 50,000 children, Jordan 5,000 families and Tanzania 10,000 children. They also finished distributing clothing in Malawi, Uganda and 15,000 of the 100,000 children target in Pakistan.

“Tomorrow we have a delegation going to Indonesia where we distribute clothes in phases of 10,000 children. As for future countries that we will visit soon they will include the West Bank, Gaza, Mexico, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Thailand, Ethiopia and Malaysia.”

Shaikh Mohammad praised the effort of the Emirates Red Crescent and the other parties tat contributed in the success of the campaign.

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Agencies
May 1,2020

Saudi Arabia has initiated refund of work visa fee to foreigners unable to travel to the Kingdom due to the suspension of international flights in the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic.

Several work visas were cancelled, following which the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the refund. The cancellation and refunding of the stamped visas will be considered effective from the date of issuance of the royal decree on March 18, reported Saudi Gazette.

As a precautionary measure to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Kingdom suspended all international flight. The ministry of health in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced 1,325 new Covid-19 coronavirus cases and 169 recoveries. With this, the total number of cases in the Kingdom now stands at 21,402, while recoveries stand at 2,953, as on Wednesday reported KT.

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News Network
April 2,2020

Dubai, Apr 2: A senior Saudi official urged more than 1 million Muslims intending to perform the hajj to delay making plans this year in comments suggesting the pilgrimage could be cancelled due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

In February, the kingdom took the extraordinary decision to close off the holy cities of Mecca and Medina to foreigners over the virus, a step which wasn’t taken even during the 1918 flu epidemic that killed tens of millions worldwide.

Restrictions have tightened in the kingdom as it grapples with over 1,500 confirmed cases of the new virus. The kingdom has reported 10 deaths so far. The Middle East has more than 71,000 confirmed cases of the virus, most of those in Iran, and over 3,300 deaths.

“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is prepared to secure the safety of all Muslims and nationals,” Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Banten told state television. “That’s why we have requested from all Muslims around the world to hold onto signing any agreements (with tour operators) until we have a clear vision.”

Saudi Arabia has barred people from entering or exiting three major cities, including Mecca and Medina, and imposed a nighttime curfew across the country. Like other countries around the world and in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has suspended all inbound and outbound commercial flights.

Each year, up to 2 million Muslims perform the hajj, a physically demanding and often costly pilgrimage that draws the faithful from around the world. The hajj, required of all able-bodied Muslims to perform once in their lifetime, is seen as a chance to wipe clean past sins and bring about greater humility and unity among Muslims.

Standing in Mecca in front of the cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray toward five times daily, Banten also said the kingdom was already providing care for 1,200 pilgrims stuck in the holy city due to global travel restrictions. A number of them are being quarantined in hotels in Mecca, he said.

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News Network
June 23,2020

Riyadh, Jun 23: Authorities in Saudi Arabia have decided to allow a limited number of citizens and residents who are already in the Kingdom to do this year’s Haj.

In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah said that in light of the continuation of the coronavirus pandemic and the risks of infections spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year (1441 H/ 2020 AD) will be held whereby a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it.

“The decision was taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols to protect human beings from the risks associated with this pandemic and in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings, the statement added.

“The government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is honored to serve millions of Haj and Umrah pilgrims annually and it confirms that this decision stems from the top priority it accords maintaining the safety of pilgrims on its land until they depart to their home countries.”

“We ask Allah the Almighty to protect all countries from this pandemic and keep all humans protected and safe, the statement said.

Saudi Arabia’s top priority is to always enable Muslim pilgrims to perform Haj and Umrah rites safely and securely and the Kingdom has been keen since the beginning of the pandemic to take all necessary precautionary measures to protect pilgrims, including by suspending the entry of Umrah pilgrims while ensuring the safety of the pilgrims already present at the holy sites, the statement further added.

Commenting on the Haj decision, the Saudi Human Rights Commission said that Saudi Arabia believes in the universal right to health. Limiting Haj not only protects the Kingdom but also many pilgrims and the communities they call home around the world.

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