WAM ISLAMABAD, 7th May 2012 (WAM): The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) has inaugurated in Badin area an economic project for productive families whose agricultural and animal resources were affected by floods which swept Sindh region last year.

About 1100 widows and persons with disabilities have benefited from the AED 5.5 million humanitarian project.

RCA Chairman Ahmed Humaid Al Mazrouie handed out productive cows to beneficiaries to help them generate fixed income to sustain their families instead of waiting for immediate assistance.

Al Mazrouie said the humanitarian project has far-reaching economic and social impact as it significantly contributes to socio-economic stability of the affected families by enhancing their abilities to overcome these difficult circumstances and opening new window of hope for them.

''The productive families project stands as one of the pioneering humanitarian initiatives the RCA has carried out to assist people struck by natural disasters in Pakistan as per instructions given by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, '' he said.

UAE's response to the flood-hit population in Pakistan, he said, sprang out of its humanitarian duty towards brotherly people in Pakistan and its ethical commitment to victims of natural disasters.

Ambassador of UAE to Pakistan Isa Abdullah Al Basha Al Nuaimi said the UAE places Pakistan and its people among its top humanitarian priorities.

He added that the UAE implemented 280 development and humanitarian projects in Pakistan during the last few years to upgrade essential services.

Fahmida Mirza, Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan, told the audience that Pakistan highly appreciates the noble humanitarian initiatives of the UAE towards Pakistan. She added that the UAE had been standing beside the Pakistani people at times of humanitarian and natural crises and offered all kinds of support and assistance to enable Pakistan cope with these harsh circumstances.

She noted that such projects signify the care the UAE lends to humanitarian situation in Pakistan. According to her, the RCA's emergency relief operations to affected region had left good impression in population of these regions.

The RCA team opened during the current visit to Pakistan opened 37 mosques and inaugurated 20 water wells. These projects worth AED 2 million.

WAM/TF