WAM Abu Dhabi, Jun 26th, 2012 (WAM) -- The UAE Red Crescent has completed preparations to launch a three-day campaign on Friday to collect donations to help support the humanitarian operations in Yemen.

The nationwide drive will be carried out by RCA in association with the Khalifa Bin Zayed Humanitarian Foundation and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Foundation and in cooperation with the media institutions in the UAE.

The campaign, which comes in the wake of an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Yemen, is implemented in line with directives by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and orders by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The initiative is followed up by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the Red Crescent Authority.

The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recently called on the international community to support Yemen in dealing with the influx of refugees into the country and the growing problems faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs).

"The humanitarian crisis is growing at an alarming rate", the Agency had warned.

WAM/AB