Dubai Cares gives Dh5 million, asks residents to donate

Winter clothing and blankets donated, whether new or used, should be clean, dry and properly packed. With regards to food donations, only packed and sealed food items are accepted.

Dubai: Dubai Cares on Friday announced that it has contributed Dh5 million in support of the “UAE Compassion” (Tarahamu) initiative. Dubai Cares’ contribution aims to ensure that the displaced children who represent majority of the Syrian refugees, survive the winter storm and have a fair chance of an education in the near future.

As one of the five UAE organisations involved in supporting the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s initiative, Dubai Cares’ role is to engage the Dubai community for utmost contribution towards the drive. Accordingly, the philanthropic organisation also unveiled a community engagement campaign on Friday, calling on the UAE community to donate winter clothing such as jackets, coats, sweaters, socks, scarfs, ear muffs, blankets among others, as well as packed food items such as rice sacks, canned meats and vegetables, cereals and more.

Winter clothing and blankets donated, whether new or used, should be clean, dry and properly packed. With regards to food donations, only packed and sealed food items are accepted. The items should be dropped off at collection points spread across Dubai.

In addition to the main collection point, which is currently set up at Al Boom Tourist Village in Dubai until Tuesday January 13, several collection points are being set up across major malls in Dubai comprising Dubai Marina Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre and The Dubai Mall from January 11 till January 13.

Dubai Cares is working with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and private schools in Dubai, encouraging them to manage the collection of the specified items from students and delivering them to Dubai Cares at its main collection point in Al Boom Tourist Village in Dubai. The overall initiative will run until January 13.

Commenting on Dubai Cares’ role in supporting the initiative, Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares said: “Empathy and humanity are cornerstones of our nation, and the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s ‘UAE Compassion’ drive, under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, prompts us to act quickly to help those in need. Over the years, Dubai Cares has built up a robust fundraising and volunteer network, which we will deploy to support the drive.”

Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) said that the “Tarahamu” initiative reflects the unity of the UAE people in all aspects of humanitarian work regionally and internationally, calling on the private schools in Dubai to participate in this humanitarian campaign in order to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the difficult weather conditions.