Abu Dhabi donates $2m for disaster relief |06 February 2013

President James Michel has, on behalf of the people and government of Seychelles, thanked the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, H.H. General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the people of the UAE for their generous donation at this time of need.

“We are deeply grateful for this gesture of compassion which reflects the deep ties of friendship which exist between Abu Dhabi and Seychelles. This will greatly aid in the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of the communities which were affected by the disaster,” said President Michel.

The President said that other individuals had contacted the Fund to give donations and urged individuals and organisations, both locally and abroad, to continue to gather more support for the fund.

The following are some of the main areas of assistance given to Seychelles by the UAE:
• Budget support to the Seychelles government of US $15 million for the 2008 economic reform programme; 

 • A US $30 million grant to construct houses on Perseverance Island as part of the government’s scheme to offer affordable housing to the whole population; 

• Funding of a new diagnostic centre for Seychelles Hospital worth US $11 million in 2010;
• Donation of two electricity generators worth 15 million USD in 2010;

• Donation of three desalination plants to alleviate the drought situation on Mahé;

• The MASDAR company, based in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Seychelles Energy Commission, has developed wind power renewable energy in Seychelles with a donation of US $25 million from the UAE;

• Donation of 40 buses to SPTC in a bid to maintain the accessibility and affordability of the public transportation system;

• Introduction of a new e-learning project in 2011 which saw Intel-Learning IT equipment installed in all schools under the Sheikh Khalifa Schools IT Project;

• Donation of one twin otter aircraft for surveillance of our EEZ and US $4.5 million worth of equipment for Victoria Hospital;

• Donation of five patrol boats in 2011 to the Seychelles Coast Guard, and also construction of a new coastguard base and its radar system, which form part of a US $15 million grant.

The total value of support from the UAE in the 2009-2011 period is estimated at almost US $100 million.