[29/October/2009]

Abu Dhabi, Oct. 28 (Saba) –United Arab Emirates has joined United Nations refugee agency's (UNHCR) top donors commonly known as 20-million-plus club, UAE News Agency (WAM) reported on Wednesday.

The UAE has now become the first and only member from the Arab and Muslim world who joined the club.

"With its contributions to the UN Refugee Agency's budget in 2009, the United Arab Emirates joins UNHCR's top donors (known as the 20-million-plus club) as the first and only member from the Arab and Muslim world," says UNHCR.

Being an informal gathering, UNHCR's 20 million-plus club is comprised of countries that contribute more than USD 20 million to the agency's programs in a year.

This development came as a result of the increasingly flourishing cooperation between UNHCR and the UAE in the humanitarian field, a last example of which was the signing of a partnership agreement with the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation to support UNHCR's operations assisting the Internally displaced persons in Pakistan.

"UAE's Membership in UNHCR's 20-million-plus club is a recognition of its continuous efforts to ease the suffering of the refugees and displaced", said Saado Qoul, UNHCR's senior advisor in Abu Dhabi.

" This humanitarian spirit is an example of the rich giving tradition established and reinforced by the wise leadership in the UAE," he added.

UNHCR's 20-million-plus club was formed in 2002 hosting the agency's top donors who give more than USD 20 million in a year. The group, which included nine member countries upon its formulation, grew rapidly reaching 18 countries currently.

Today's members in the club are USA, EC, UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and most recently the UAE.

Saba