DUBAI (AFP) — United Arab Emirates-based charity Dubai Cares announced on Wednesday the launch of a one-billion-dollar (627-million-euro) project to fund education in 12 of the world's poorest countries.
Phase one will see funding for Bangladesh, Bosnia, Chad, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Maldives, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan and Yemen, with money also going to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.
The money will be spent on new schools, redeveloping existing facilities and providing medical services and drinking water as part of the charity's aim to educate one million children, Dubai Cares said in a statement.
It will work with Save the Children and its first project will provide primary education to children in Sudan.
"Save the Children will receive an 60.9-million-dirham (10.4-million-euro) grant from Dubai Cares for programmes in Sudan," said Reem al-Hashimy, who chairs the charity's board.
"Save the Children has one of the largest humanitarian programmes currently operating in Sudan, uniquely positioning them to execute the programmes," she said.
The statement said Dubai Cares was now the world's largest charitable foundation solely devoted to improving primary education for children in developing countries.
