The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) team, representing the UAE at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York, affirmed that humanitarian work and community empowerment are among the top priorities of the country's wise leadership.

The UAE is historically recognised as one of the largest donor countries globally, with the ERC, under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and ERC Chairman, works to enhance humanitarian and developmental response globally.

This was part of the UAE's participation in the second day of the forum, which is organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York until 17th July.

During a session, Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, ERC Secretary-General, highlighted the UAE's qualitative contributions to combating poverty globally. The UAE addresses its causes through support for infrastructure and renewable and clean energy projects and provides employment, education, and healthcare opportunities to tackle poverty at its roots.

He also emphasised support for projects enabling sustainable growth, transformation in renewable and clean energy sectors, and innovative development work.

Al Mansouri added that 54% of the total aid provided by the ERC in 2022 was developmental aid, with 64% allocated to the first sustainable development goal of eradicating poverty.

He further explained that the authority implemented 264,788 projects across various sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, social care, water, and clean energy. These projects benefit 53 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, reach 94 million beneficiaries, and have a total project cost of $1.3 billion.

Regarding partnerships, he noted that the ERC has forged strong partnerships with several international organisations, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNRWA, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other UN agencies.