![The UAE Red Crescent giving out Zakat Al Fitr [charity given to the needy at the end of Ramadan] in Afghanistan in August 2012. Courtesy Wam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VQU3QTPXKQTEEPFMPAAXNFTVQA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5f7b315f60e8be882498061b8eac0f003a074998415841a1ae3098f3b9fce058&width=800&height=533)
ABU DHABI // The UAE Red Crescent celebrated its 30th anniversary at an event in the capital yesterday and pledged to increase its humanitarian and charitable works across the world in the coming year.
The Red Crescent started its humanitarian activities in the UAE in 1983 and during the past three decades it has reached hundreds of thousands of victims of natural disasters across the world.
The authority’s secretary general, Mohammed Ateej Al Falahi, who was speaking on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the
Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and President of the Red Crescent Authority, said the humanitarian initiatives launched by the UAE make a difference in human development and protecting human dignity in underprivileged regions and fragile communities.
“The UAE founded a unique approach to countering the consequences of humanitarian disasters and crises,” Sheikh Hamdan said on the state news agency,Wam, on the authority’s 30th anniversary.
The authority noted that its humanitarian initiatives were launched upon directives and follow-up by the President, Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Red Crescent also thanked the country’s media, including Abu Dhabi Media’s The National and its Arabic sister paper Al Ittihad, which were honoured with trophies in recognition of their contributions towards prevailing the message of humanitarian activities.
