Sheikh Hamdan made the remarks following the launch of several development and healthcare projects by the ERC to assist the Iraqi displaced people and the Syrian refugees in Iraq’s Kurdistan.

“Our humanitarian efforts enjoy the full support of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,” he said.

“Such projects come as an extension to the UAE’s humanitarian approach. We are determined to step up our efforts in 2017, the Year of Giving, through a carefully developed plan to address the humanitarian issues in the Iraqi arena,”he added.

The ERC delegation, currently visiting Iraqi Kurdistan, opened today a number of development projects there, including the “Mother of the Nation Eye Hospital’ and the Autism Centre in Erbil.

The delegation, headed by ERC Secretary General Dr. Mohammed Atiq Al Falahi and accompanied by the UAE Consul General in Kurdistan Rashid Mohammed Al Mansouri, also witnessed a mass wedding for 200 displace and refugee couples.