In response to the devastating earthquake that has affected over 1 million primary school–aged children, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has instructed Dubai Cares to provide educational assistance to the children of Haiti.
Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares stated, “Under His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s direction, Dubai Cares will provide immediate assistance to 200,000 children in Haiti through our international partners Care International, Save the Children, Plan International and UNICEF who are currently on the ground in Haiti. After this devastating disaster, the children are in great need of very basic educational requirements and we will be working diligently to ensure that the post disaster needs of the primary education sector are addressed.”
According to The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) 2010 Haiti Earthquake Flash Appeal, “Children and youth from poor and vulnerable families are thought to be most in need of urgent assistance. Teachers and educational personnel have inevitably been killed and injured in the earthquake and suffered severe losses. In addition, it is estimated that a high number of young children (about 25% of the affected population) are in immediate need of support. Education will play a major role, not only for ensuring children go back to school but also for those who were already out of school. According to the available data, almost 50% of Haiti’s school-aged children were out of school prior to the earthquake.”
Navaraj Guwlani, Regional Director of CARE Middle East and Europe added, “Through the generous support of its partners on the ground, Dubai Cares has once again exhibited a coordinated and effective partnership approach in its program work and emergency response. Together, we are working on delivering a strategic and effective long term program that will address the needs of the children of Haiti and help rebuild their lives.”
Dubai Cares will continue to identify and explore areas in which we can help bring the Haitian children back to the protective environment of school.