WAM ABU DHABI: Efforts by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, to help Syrian refugees and other matters were discussed by Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizations Dr Saeed Mohammed Al-Shamsi and UNHCR's Regional Representative in the GCC Imran Riza.

The meeting also discussed preparations for the forthcoming 4th Extraordinary Islamic Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to be held on 14 15 August (27 Ramadan) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Shamsi, in remarks at the meeting, said the humanitarian role the UAE plays is part of the leadership's political will. The UAE, he added, made achievements in transforming relief operations into development projects to contribute to international stability and security, thanks to the wise directives by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The UAE's foreign aid reached 1% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is higher than the 0.7% minimum set by the United Nations for donor countries, Al-Shamsi noted.

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