Princess Haya launches Humanitarian Logistics Data Bank

Princess Haya bint Hussein, chairperson of the International Humanitarian City, announced the launched of the Humanitarian Logistics Data Bank on Sunday.
On the first day of the World Government Summit (WGS), Princess Haya said the bank is an information-exchange platform that will help gather data on vital relief items and deliver it to those in need in real-time.
"The bank will facilitate real-time data collection for the deployment of aid in impacted regions, quickly and professionally," the Princess told a crowd of delegates and VIPs, among them His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, was also among the attendees.
"It is my pleasure in the name of the UAE to place the Humanitarian Databank at the disposal of the world to facilitate humanitarian efforts," Princess Haya added.
The bank came about with the efforts of 70 UN agencies and international organisations. It will be duplicated by 10 other humanitarian hubs by 2019. The bank will allow global mapping of available relief items and help exchange coordination and optimise efforts to better serve those in need.
The event, Princess Haya said, commemorates the centennial birthday of the late UAE Founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and comes in line with announcing 2018 as the Year of Zayed.
David Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Programme, said 815 million people in the world today go to bed hungry everyday, while 110 million in the world go to bed without knowing whether they will have another meal the next day.
"Every five seconds, a child dies because of hunger. In a world where there's over $300 trillion of available wealth, should one child in the world today go to bed hungry?" He added: "In the US alone, the stock market has increased by over $6 trillion in a year. Should a single child be starving in any giving day?"
Beasley thanked the Dubai government and noted that providing the necessary infrastructure is critical to changing and saving lives. "Now, we can go online and preposition and move any needed supplies to any given location in the world. That's why the logistics database is very important," he told the crowd. "It isn't only about providing money, but the necessary infrastructure to achieve objectives to save lives in critical."
He praised the government's quick response to the Rohingya crisis and natural disasters like the Irma hurricane that recently hit the US and affected thousands of people. "Your highnesses, what you have done here is reality," said Beasley, as he addressed the Dubai Ruler and Princess Haya.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• Year of Zayed
• Dubai

Sherouk Zakaria

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com