The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed readiness to continue assisting Zimbabwe with developmental and humanitarian aid as the monarchy pushes for the deepening of relations with Harare. UAE was among the donors to respond to an SOS by the Government following the Cyclone Idai disaster that killed hundreds of people and ravaged infrastructure particularly in eastern parts of the country.
Speaking during a press conference after addressing the Pan African Parliament (PAP) at the body’s seat here during the official opening of the Second Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament last week, president of the Federal National Council of the UAE Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi said Zimbabwe and the other Southern African nations that were hit by Idai remained top priorities for her nation.
She said the UAE will continue to explore more areas of increased co-operation as it seeks to expand its footprint across Africa.
“I would like to confirm that UAE responded timeously to the disaster and within 24 hours we had already started moving aid to the affected countries (Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi). We extended help and all the other things we could do at the critical times,’’ said Dr Qubaisi.
“As a policy, we always think about development and humanitarian aid in areas of infrastructure and Africa is a priority area for us especially the three countries that were affected by the cyclone disaster.’’
The UAE Federal National Council president had earlier in her address pledged her country’s support to ensure peace and stability on the African continent where some places remain hotbeds of conflict, strife and hardships owing to evils such as terrorism.
PAP president Mr Roger Nkodo Dang said the continental parliamentary body was leading efforts to ameliorate the effects of Cyclone Idai in the affected countries. He said PAP was working with its Food Security Ambassador Dr Bryline Chitsunge (a Zimbabwean national) to mobilise more aid to bring relief to Idai victims inZimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.
He said the ghost of climate change was a reality which Africa must confront citing the Cyclone Idai disaster as one the effects of climate change.
