By IPS Correspondents
ABU DHABI, May 23 2003 (IPS)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ordered the delivery of emergency relief assistance to victims of the devastating earthquake which struck the Algerian capital and its surrounding areas in the early hours of yesterday, Thursday.

The gesture is in line with the directives of UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA), gave the order to the Red Crescent Society (RCS) to quickly reach out to the victims of the earthquake to help alleviate their sufferings.

The Zayed Charity Foundation has donated more than 270,000 dollars to the RCS for the noble cause.

According to Khalifa Nasir Al Suwaidi, RCA Board Chairman, plans are on course to quickly dispatch a planeload of relief assistance, including large quantities of medicines, medical equipment and items, as well as food to the affected people.

He said an RCS delegation will leave tomorrow for Algiers to get firsthand information about the situation of the affected people to determine their basic needs, which, he said, would be bought at the Algerian local market for distribution to the affected people.

He said that the RCS would coordinate with its Algerian counterpart to deliver UAE assistance to the affected people and to provide support for the humanitarian program of the Algerian RCS.

– The delegation will also convey the condolences of the UAE people to the families of the victims of the earthquake in Algiers," he added.

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