ALGERIA: UAE distributes relief aid to quake victims

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

ALGIERS, May 27 2003 (IPS) - A visiting United Arab Emirates (UAE) Red Crescent Society (RCS) delegation today distributed relief assistance to the quake-affected Algerian population at Boumerdes town, the hardest hit by the earthquake last Wednesday, which claimed 2,217 lives and injured another 9,087 so far.

The delegation, led by RCS Deputy Secretary General for Administrative and Financial Affairs Abdullah Aqeida Al Muheiri and accompanied by a number of Algerian officials, toured the quake-hit areas to inspect losses in lives and properties.

– One hundred and fifty tents, 1,500 blankets and first aid kits were distributed today in line with the directives of President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces," he said.

He added that 100 tons of relief aid were purchased and will be distributed within days. ôMore emergency assistance will be airlifted from Abu Dhabi, with a planeload of 300 tents is due here tomorrow," he said, adding that more international aid is needed to relieve the affected population and the UAE would do whatever it can it to alleviate the Algerian people’s suffering.