The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the UAE Red Crescent Commission signed a Memo of Understanding in Abu Dhabi on April 15, 2010 reinforcing cooperation between both sides in relation to humanitarian action in Palestine.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, President of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, while the UAE side was represented by Ahmad Hameed al-Mazroui, Chairman of the Board of Directors. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Dr. Khaled Joudeh, General Director of the PRCS in Gaza Strip, along with several officials from the UAE Red Crescent. It was signed during the visit by the President of the PRCS to UAE, and cements the strategic partnership between both sides, and the implementation of health, relief and social projects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The agreement stipulates that the UAE Red Crescent will look for funding to finance agreed projects to be implemented by both sides, in accordance with the governing mechanisms and conditions for project implementation and in turn, the Palestine Red Crescent Society will prepare draft proposals to be agreed upon by both sides. Together, they will work to implement projects to benefit Palestinian citizens affected by the prevailing economic, health and security conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In parallel with the signing of the Memo, officials discussed several serious humanitarian issues in Palestine, in particular the challenges facing the health sector and the severe situation for orphans in Palestine. A discussion was also held on expanding the Orphans Care and Sponsoring Project that is operated by the UAE Red Crescent in Palestine, by promoting orphans to sponsors and mobilizing support from philanthropists.
Dr. Younis Al-Khatib praised the unique humanitarian stance of the UAE people, its leader and government in helping to address the difficult humanitarian conditions facing the Palestinian people and expressed his appreciation for those efforts. He stated that the UAE was one of the first countries to respond to the humanitarian crisis and has been a presence since the early stages as a strong ally.
Dr. Al-Khatib gave an overview of humanitarian and health conditions for Palestinian citizens in the homeland and throughout the Diaspora, highlighting the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip and the difficulties faced by the PRCS there due to recent Israeli aggression. He briefed his UAE counterparts on the services and programs that are offered by the PRCS, and future plans for reinforcing and developing humanitarian services for Palestinian citizens in both the homeland and in the Diaspora.
In response, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Red Crescent, Ahmad al-Mazroui said: "the Commission is always ready to offer assistance to the Palestinian people and the efforts of the Commission will be to meet our obligations towards our Palestinian brethren who have suffered so much.”
He explained that the Memo of Understanding opens up new prospects for cooperation and coordination, and creates further partnership ties between both sides to upgrade the level of health services and improve the economic and living conditions of orphans and the poorest sectors in Palestine.
Al-Mazroui said the Memo of Understanding is in line with the UAE Red Crescent Commission’s objectives of supporting social empowerment projects that meet the needs of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation.
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