Emiratis and expatriates in the UAE donated up to Dh19 million as part of a nationwide campaign to help Yemeni people.

The three-day campaign ended on Sunday at 8pm included a live telethon on major television and radio stations. The drive initiated by the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) was aimed to provide aid and food supplies to Yemeni people who are struck by near-catastrophic food shortages.

The campaign was launched in cooperation with the Khalifa bin Zayed Humanitarian Foundation and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Foundation. The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, earlier in June this year approved a Dh500-million aid to Yemen.

“Donations are still acceptable online through the RCA website, toll free No. 800733, Etisalat and du, or through several bank accounts: the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (20865607), the Sharjah Islamic Bank (0060-445518-012), the Dubai Islamic Bank (003-52055862-5901), and Al Hilal Bank (02-6419000-069),” said Ahmad Al Mazroui, Chairman of the Board – RCA, in an interview on Noor Dubai TV.

“The RCA teams, feeling and shouldering the big responsibility, are very keen to deliver in person the money, food, clothing and items collected to the right people in Yemen,” he said.

Official statistics show that around 10 million Yemenis are facing death, six millions are unemployed, and 50 per cent of the country’s children are suffering malnutrition.

“The Gross Domestic Product in Yemen has dropped by 20 per cent, whereas the poverty has risen to 65 per cent and the inflammation to 20 per cent,” Ahmed bin Hajar, Undersecretary of the Yemeni Ministry of Finance told Abu Dhabi TV.

Hassan Hefnawi, Judicial Adviser to the President, said the UAE has long been in assistance to Yemen since the time of the late Shaikh Zayed. “I advise all Muslims, who are planning to pay Zakat (optional and obligatory charity) in the Holy month of Ramadan to take the initiative and pay it now to the Yemenis,” he added.