June Floods: Minister for Climate applauds UAE for sourcing relief items locally

The Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Alhaji Baba Seidu Issifu, has commended the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for positively responding to his aid request and, most importantly, for injecting about US$1 million into the Ghanaian economy.

He believed retailers, wholesalers and others would benefit from the decision of the donor to purchase the relief items locally.

“The items they have presented will help the economy of Ghana because they bought the things from our markets. They didn’t fly the things from the UAE. They came with the raw cash and went into the market to buy,” the minister highlighted.

The support from the government of the UAE followed a request on behalf of Ghana by the Minister for Climate Ghana and Sustainability, Alhaji Seidu Issifu.

Addressing journalists at the NADMO warehouse in Accra, where the items were being packed into boxes for onwards distribution to the affected individuals, the minister indicated that President Mahama had tasked him to solicit support from the international community.

Through the Climate Emergency Resource Mobilisation Track that instituted a response to flood victims, the minister said that in a week, he wrote to about 70 international bodies to come to the aid of Ghana.

Though the UAE has quickly responded to the request, the minister is looking to reach out to 100 capable institutions to support Ghana.

“Climate change cannot be fought by government alone. All hands must be on deck,” he added.

FRIENDSHIP

He indicated that the swift and positive response by the government of the UAE is a remarkable demonstration of the enduring friendship and the longstanding relations between both countries.

According to him, the UAE’s generosity brings hope and relief to thousands of people affected by the flood.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs James Gyakie Quayson remarked that “this gesture of solidarity further deepens the enduring friendship between Ghana and the UAE,” and opens doors for more.

On his part, the Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation expressed the gratitude of Ghana to the government of the UAE for also helping the emergency response drive of the nation.

He noted that the items given by the UAE increase the stock of the relief items to support the flood victims but called for more help.

HELP

Rashid Salam Al Shamsi, Director of Logistics Support, UAE Aid Agency, remarked that his agency believed helping others in times of need was based on unity, cooperation and responsibility.

“In this regard, we stand with Ghana and support your national efforts to assist those affected and to aid recovery,” he added.

He remarked that the UAE decided to source the items in Ghana in order to boost the economy of the country, apart from giving out the support to the flood victims.

The US$1 million assistance from the UAE includes essential food supplies and emergency shelter material.

The rice, cooking oil, mattresses and others are intended to support families in areas like Sahara in the Klottey Korle Municipal Assembly whose homes and livelihoods were affected by the floods on June 29.

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