The UAE has announced a $60 million programme to fund the development of schools and support the educational needs of visually impaired students across Ethiopia.
Mohamed Haji Al Khoori, director general of the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, and Zinash Tayachew, the first lady of Ethiopia, signed the agreement, state news agency Wam reported.
Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan, Minister of State and member of the board of trustees of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, witnessed the signing.
This initiative will be led by the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, a portfolio entity of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, in collaboration with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The initiative tackles a pressing humanitarian need in Ethiopia, where there are an estimated 1.2 million visually impaired people, including 332,000 classified as blind.
Ethiopia has one of the highest rates of trachoma in the world. This is a preventable eye disease caused by a bacterial infection.
“The UAE remains dedicated to supporting people of determination worldwide," said Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, Chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, and chairman of the board of trustees of Erth Zayed Philanthropies.
"A key element is ensuring that visually impaired students in Ethiopia can access inspiring and inclusive learning environments that meet their specialised needs, thereby enabling them to reach their full potential.”
The new schools planned under the initiative will integrate assistive technologies, specialised curriculums, and tailored vocational programmes to empower visually impaired students with the skills necessary for higher education and employment.
Ms Tayachew said: “We are grateful to the UAE for their continued partnership, which supports our goal of ensuring that every citizen, regardless of their abilities, has access to quality education."
The new programme builds on the launch of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak School for the Blind in Addis Ababa, in May 2024.
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Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
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Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
