Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, has said that Zayed Humanitarian Day, which is celebrated on the 19th day of Ramadan each year, epitomises the values of giving and love instilled by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

"Thanks to the assistance it delivers to various countries globally, the UAE has shot to the forefront as a leader of humanitarian activities at regional and international levels. Charitable activities have become a methodology and identity characterising our country under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, along with Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates. The UAE has thus assumed high status amongst the world’s top donor countries in offering external assistance.

"His Highness Sheikh Khalifa is a role model to be emulated in humanitarian and charitable activities. The generosity of His Highness has spanned the entire planet and the initiatives, as well as the efforts of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Charitable Activities, bear reference to the efforts of the UAE President in driving corporate humanitarian efforts, which go beyond the limits of geography, language, religion and race.

"His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has set the model of giving and caring, and launching humanitarian and social initiatives for the disadvantaged throughout the world. The Dubai Cares initiative for instance was aimed at spreading education in poor countries, followed by Noor Dubai campaign to restore hope for the blind, the Kiswa initiative for dressing one million children worldwide, and UAE Water Aid.

"This year, His Highness has launched the Ramadan campaign, ‘Reading Nation’ to distribute five million books gifted from the UAE to the world, in addition to establishing 2,000 libraries across the Islamic world. The campaign drew wide participation from the community and exceeded the target set. It has succeeded in securing more than seven million books, and thanks to the generosity of donors to contribute to the Reading Nation auction, has fetched AED 41 million."

Source :WAM