Dubai Cares has received a contribution of AED 1 million from Emirates Islamic (EI), through the Bank’s Emirates Islamic Charity Fund, to support the Rohingya refugees who have fled their homeland and made the perilous journey to neighboring Bangladesh to seek refuge.
According to a report by the Inter Sector Coordination Group titled, “Situation Report: Rohingya Refugee Crisis”, violence in Rakhine State began on 25 August 2017 and the conflict has driven to date an estimated 615,500 Rohingya across the border into Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The speed and scale of the influx has resulted in a critical humanitarian emergency. The people who have arrived in Bangladesh are reliant on humanitarian assistance for food, and other life-saving needs. They are highly vulnerable, having fled conflict and experienced severe trauma, and now living in extremely difficult conditions.
Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares said: “We are very grateful to Emirates Islamic for its generous support to the Muslim Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Their donation reflects the values of the UAE’s ‘Year of Giving’ as declared by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. It is critical that the Rohingya refugee children, who have suffered so much in this conflict, have access to education in a safe and nurturing environment. This generous support from Emirates Islamic will certainly help us provide these children a sense of normalcy, to enable them to build a future they can look forward to.”
Awatif Al Harmoody, General Manager, Operational Governance, Emirates Islamic said, “Emirates Islamic is proud to join hands with Dubai Cares in their endeavour to ensure the wellbeing of Rohingya refugee children. Through education, these children will be able to create a better future for themselves and their community. Charity is a cornerstone of Shari’a and as one of the country’s leading Islamic banks, Emirates Islamic is committed to continue to support those in need via the Emirates Islamic Charity Fund.”
On the sidelines of the UNGA held last September in New York, Dubai Cares announced its commitment of AED 1,836,750 ($500,000) to ensure coordinated and sustained emergency response to the current influx of Rohingya refugees who have been displaced by the ongoing violence in Rakhine state in Myanmar.