Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak directs the “Refugee Women Support Fund” to implement projects in South Sudan and Uganda with $1 million funding
Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and Honorary President of the Emirates Red Crescent “Mother of the Nation,” directed the Refugee Women and Children Support Fund to provide funding of $1 million to implement projects aimed at empowering South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. This initiative reflects Her Highness’s dedication to assisting refugee women and their families and enhancing their capabilities to secure a dignified life.
The Emirates Red Crescent, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), successfully implemented these projects, benefiting more than 45,000 individuals, 60% of whom were women. The projects focused on agriculture and livestock development.
In the livestock sector, the projects included purchasing and raising animals, as well as disease prevention and treatment. With a budget of $86,000, they benefitted 186 individuals.
In agriculture, $319,914 was allocated to purchase vegetable seeds and train farmers in innovative agricultural production techniques, benefiting 24,000 farmers. Additionally, $98,800 was used to buy harvest equipment, benefiting 980 individuals.
Another focus was income-generating activities, with $249,286 allocated to support such initiatives, benefiting 10,788 people. Furthermore, $246,000 provided work skills training, benefiting more than 10,000 refugees.
Her Excellency Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, highlighted that the Refugee Women and Children Support Fund, established under the generous initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, strengthens her continuous efforts to economically and socially empower refugee women. The fund aims to improve their living standards by equipping them with production tools they can manage, providing a steady income to support their personal and family needs.
Dr. Al Shamsi noted that Her Highness’s vision has brought a qualitative shift to programs and projects targeting women in troubled communities. Her initiatives have earned widespread recognition from humanitarian organizations concerned with women and children, regionally and globally. She emphasized that Her Highness’s initiatives have placed her among the leading supporters and advocates of refugees, enhancing their capacities and supporting their humanitarian causes.
Dr. Al Shamsi further highlighted that Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak profoundly understands the challenges women face in refugee camps and their struggles under harsh displacement conditions. Through various programs and initiatives, Her Highness has worked to empower them to overcome these difficulties and protect them from risks associated with their temporary circumstances.
She added that Her Highness’s efforts have drawn attention to the plight of marginalized women, attracting support to address their conditions in numerous conflict areas. These efforts have led to implementing projects that have improved women’s educational and professional levels and enhanced their economic, health, and psychological conditions. The Refugee Women and Children Support Fund provides specialized projects tailored to women’s needs during displacement and according to their stability and resettlement requirements after crises and disasters.
Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary-General of the Emirates Red Crescent, praised Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s genuine humanitarian efforts. He described her as a symbol of boundless humanitarian generosity within the UAE and globally. He highlighted her pioneering role in addressing essential humanitarian issues, particularly in enhancing the capacities of women and children affected by wars, conflicts, and disasters. He stated that Her Highness’s initiatives have significantly impacted the level of care and support provided to these vulnerable groups.
Dr. Al Falahi emphasized that the Emirates Red Crescent, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Representative of the Ruler in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Red Crescent, prioritizes capacity-building projects and sustainable initiatives for victims of crises and disasters. These projects are seen as innovative solutions to meet the growing demands of humanitarian work, given the increasing number of civilian casualties caused by successive events. His Highness consistently directs the adoption of impactful projects that quickly improve lives and alleviate human suffering.
The Secretary-General also noted that the Emirates Red Crescent, in collaboration with the UNHCR, carefully planned and implemented projects to support South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. These projects were designed to meet the refugees’ needs, especially women, and align with the UAE’s leadership’s vision of providing better living conditions for the beneficiaries in Uganda.
Dr. Al Falahi emphasized that these projects significantly shift the services provided to displaced and refugee populations. They offer an innovative and pioneering solution to enhance refugees’ capabilities by equipping them with production tools that help ease their lives and meet their food needs.
He added, “The Uganda projects have achieved significant gains for South Sudanese refugee women, providing them with better living conditions and greater care within their temporary communities.”
The Emirates Red Crescent and UNHCR signed a cooperation agreement two years ago to enhance the capacities of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. Both sides worked together to bring these projects to life, creating a vital source of steady income for the refugees, helping them manage their lives during their displacement, and contributing to boosting Uganda’s economy, which hosts many refugees.
