UNHCR thanks Khalifa for helping Iraqi refugees in Syria

In a statement here yesterday to Emirates News Agency (Wam), UNHCR’s director of the Bureau for Middle East and North Africa Radhouane Nouicer said, “Sheikh Khalifa’s donation was the first Arab contribution to efforts to help to help Iraqi refugees in neighboring Syria.”

Earlier this month, Shaikh Khalifa donated $10 million donation in support of the agency’s operations aimed at assisting Iraqi refugees in Syria.

“Shaikh Khalifa’s donation would not only ease burden on the Syrian government, but would also help it to build infrastructure for hosting Iraqi refugees on its territories,” said Nouicer.

“The UAE is one of our major partners in the region and our relations are moving steadily at good pace,” he added.

Nouicer is leading a delegation from UNHCR on a current visit to the UAE, which started Wednesday.

“We are visiting the country to thank the UAE authorities and co-ordinate with them in regard to humanitarian programmes,” he said.

The visiting UNHCR delegation comprises Nick Van Praag, director of the Division of External Relations, UNHCR headquarters in Geneva and Ahmed Gubartallah, regional representative for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, UNHCR Riyadh. They arrived in the UAE yesterday on a regional tour to rally support to humanitarian work.

Radhouane said, “The UAE visit is aimed at pursuing common humanitarian work, establishing relations with non governmental organisations (NGOs), training young UAE nationals on humanitarian works as well as coordinating relief works with the UAE, and in broad terms, to enhance relations with the UAE.”

Early this month, UNHCR’s representative in the Gulf region, Ahmed Gubartallah said the agency was pleased with the $10million donation by Shaikh Khalifa to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi refugees in Syria.

UNHCR headquarters in Geneva also expressed its gratitude to Shaikh Khalifa and the people of the UAE for the well-timed contribution, describing it as “an evidence of humanitarian partnership and solidarity in the region”.