Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall learn more about World Vision’s work

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

The impact of World Vision’s work with children affected by violence and emergencies was on full display for distinguished royalty visiting Dubai today.

His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, and wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visited the Dubai International Humanitarian City (IHC), a logistics centre for a network of humanitarian organisations, including World Vision, from where support for emergency responses across the globe is distributed.

Over the past six years World Vision has sent US$1.5 million worth of goods to emergencies in 18 countries, reaching approximately half a million children and families from the hub.

The Prince and Duchess saw a World Vision Child-Friendly Space display, and heard about the impact of World Vision’s current work with children in Iraq and Nepal.

Child-Friendly Spaces are used by World Vision staff in humanitarian emergencies to give children somewhere safe to gather, learn, play, and receive emotional and physical support.

“We’ve seen smiles on children’s faces in Child-Friendly Spaces all over the world,” says World Vision’s Tanya Penny from the Dubai IHC warehouses.   “They provide a place where children can begin to recover from the often shocking situations they’ve been through – from conflict to earthquakes, typhoons to extreme hunger.

“Our focus in any emergency is on children,” said Penny “And particularly on ensuring children are protected from the effects of violence, have access to education, and hope for the future.”

“In any disaster, children are the most vulnerable – without access to the basics of food, water, shelter, and someone to look out for them, they are at risk of exploitation, trafficking, further trauma and abuse.”

 World Vision is currently responding to 21 humanitarian crises across 35 countries, assisting approximately 10 million people. In collaboration with partners like Dubai International Humanitarian City and United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot, World Vision is able to respond to humanitarian needs within 24 hours, providing life saving assistance.