The UAE volunteer humanitarian organization, Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), has announced that it will extend care and assistance to the families of COVID-19 deceased from all nationalities.
The initiative is part of the UAE government’s program “You are among your Families” which highlights several vital steps and enhances the philanthropic organization’s activities in the social services field.
ERC to Provide Care for All Families of Deceased Coronavirus Victims in UAE
Sharing his thoughts on the update, Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, ERC Secretary-General, highlighted the fact that Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the ERC is following the organization’s initiatives related to bringing COVID-19 under control nationwide and always instructs the importance to enhance the preventive and precautionary efforts against the pandemic, as shared in a report by WAM.
Dr. Al Falahi said that the initiative mirrors the ERC’s keenness to express solace to families that have lost one of its members due to COVID-19 and alleviate its humanitarian repercussions and negative impacts on their lives.
In line with this, the Secretary-General also noted that the ERC will provide everything that these families need and contribute to enhancing their ability to overcome the ordeal of losing a loved one.
Al-Falahi added that the organization has already begun rolling out the procedures for the program, in cooperation with the competent authorities nationwide, by identifying the victims and numbers of the deceased, communicating with their families, studying their social conditions, and identifying their needs in the living, health and educational fields.
أعلن المتحدث الرسمي لهيئة الهلال الأحمر الإماراتي في الأحاطة الإعلامية حول مستجدات فيروس كورونا عن إطلاق هيئه الهلال الأحمر الإماراتي عدة مبادرات لدعم المجتمع منها تكفل الهيئة برعايتة جميع المصابين بفيروس كورونا وأسرهم من مختلف الجنسياتhttps://t.co/LwEkXD7mWh pic.twitter.com/TwXC1xlHOU
— الهلال الأحمر الإماراتي (@emiratesrc) April 20, 2020
What this means for affected residents is that all the needs of COVID-19 patients in the country regardless of nationality – including the education of the kids of those who died – will be taken care of according to Mohammed Al Fahim, official spokesperson for the ERC Authority.
Al Fahim explained, “The Emirates Red Crescent Authority has coordinated with various government bodies and will study the needs of the families of COVID-19 patients. We will provide them with the required education support. We are currently working on a community initiative, in cooperation with private schools and colleges, to reduce tuition fees for families affected by the repercussions of the crisis.”
In other related news, Ma’an – the Authority for Social Contribution, has set April 23 as the deadline for receiving school fee assistance applications from the Abu Dhabi-based private school students’ parents affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the ‘Together We Are Good’ program, Ma’an will help the affected residents in paying school installments and getting tablets as per a set of criteria, including, the annual private school fees are less than AED 20,000.
Moreover, parents who have lost their jobs due to the current situation are also eligible for assistance. Eligible beneficiaries can apply over the coming days by calling toll-free number 800-3088 or visiting the program’s website launched by Ma’an.
Meanwhile, aside from the special assistance provided by the ERC to victims of the coronavirus, the organization since March has been actively supporting the government’s efforts to raise funds in order to combat the coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic.
The program called “The Fund of the United Arab Emirates: Homeland of Humanity” has been launched in coordination with the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, NCEMA, the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, and other humanitarian and charity organizations and societies in the country.
ALSO READ: Gov’t Launches Website to Help UAE Residents by Providing Food, Basic Needs
