The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged US$200,000 to the UN refugee agency for 2017 operations, Obaid Salim Al Zaabi, the Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva, announced at the Geneva pledge conference.

In the biggest show of support ever, donor governments on Wednesday promised an initial US$700 million to fund UN Refugee Agency operations next year to help nearly 64 million displaced, refugees or stateless people in its operations worldwide in 2017.

The pledges, made at the donor meeting in Geneva, will help UNHCR provide support to people fleeing major conflicts as well operations in more than 100 countries around the world. UNHCR’s budget for all operations for 2017 stands at US$7.3 billion.

The UAE representative commended the tremendous work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in alleviating the suffering of millions of refugees across the world, protecting them and finding solutions to the problems they were experiencing.

Al Zaabi reiterated the UAE's commitment to continue its cooperation with the UN refugee agency and support it so as to deliver its noble humanitarian goals.

Outlining the UAE's major contributions to the UNHCR's activities and programmes, he explained that the UAE had established camps for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Iraq and Greece and launched massive humanitarian, developmental and relief programmes in Yemen.

"We are calling on our government donors to work with us to make sure that all displaced people can access protection and build a secure future," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi at the meeting.

"Our top priority is saving lives and protecting the rights and dignity of refugees, people displaced within their own countries, and stateless people. That means offering practical support over the longer term – including to the countries and communities that host them."