Foundation comes to the aid of tsunami victims
By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
Dubai: More than Dh5.5 million in aid has been donated to tsunami victims in Thailand by the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation.
Medical equipment and services, in addition to relief support and healthcare materials, have all been donated by the foundation.
Ebrahim Mohammad Bu Melha, Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Department of Justice, Attorney-General and Vice-Chairman of the foundation's Board of Trustees announced the figure last week.
Supporters of charities and humanitarian organisations have also donated about Dh4 million worth of relief materials and cash to sufferers in Thailand and Indonesia, he said.
Bu Melha said a study was under way to reconstruct schools, hospitals, religious houses and homes for the needy, in cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of Housing.
"The foundation has collected fishing boats, boat engines and fishing equipment for tsunami victims in Thailand.
"All the materials will be distributed to the sufferers in a special celebration scheduled to take place at the end of February in Thailand.
"The celebration will take place under the patronage of Thailand's authorities. About 200 families will benefit from this equipment because they work in the fishing industry," Bu Melha said.
Bu Melha said the foundation would be transporting eight highly equipped ambulances for use in remote villages.
He said these aid missions came under the directives of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister.
"Following Shaikh Mohammad's call for quick action, our rescue teams travelled to east of Asia on the second day of the disaster.
"We were the first international humanitarian foundation, along with a special rescue team from Dubai police to step into the damaged areas, north of Sumatra, the mostly affected spot.
"The first step of the work was the search and rescue of victims, and that was completed successfully," he said.
The Dubai rescue team was made up of 35 people and a number of highly trained police dogs.
The rescue teams chose to go to Indonesia, first, because it was the country most severely affected, said Bu Melha.
The foundation set up four hospitals in different areas. He said that 42 physicians and 150 nurses were running the hospitals that could offer medical treatment for 250 patients and admit about 70 patients.
The foundation's general manager, Adeeb Mohammad Bin Lootah, said donations are still pouring in.
"Schools and university students and many residents have shown a high level of interest in donating aid materials and cash.
"Humanitarian organisations, public establishments and foreign communities residing in the UAE have also made a contribution," he said.
Abdul Rahman Bin Sbeih, who headed the rescue teams, praised Dubai police for doing an excellent job.
"The Dubai team rescued a fisherman who was thrown four km from the shore. He sustained several bone fractures. He fought for his life for five days on his boat. We were able to reach him and rescue him."