Dubai Government volunteers bring relief to families of COVID-19 victims

A team of Dubai Government volunteers is playing a commendable role in bringing relief to the families of people who have died from COVID-19.

With the aim of easing the suffering of the families who have lost loved ones, the team has been working diligently to speed up procedures that need to be followed once a COVID-19 death occurs.

In coordination with local and federal entities, the volunteers ensure that all post-mortality protocols are rigorously followed in order to reduce the burden on the grieving family.

Formed at an early stage of the pandemic based on the recommendation of Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, the team includes volunteers from Dubai Police, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Courts, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Public Prosecution.

It is led by Ahmed Huraimel, the advisor for the Dubai The Model Center initiative of the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai.

The volunteering effort is yet another example of the deeply humanitarian and inclusive spirit of the UAE as part of which Dubai has launched several efforts to support people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the unfortunate event of a COVID-19 death, the volunteer team establishes contact with the deceased individual’s families and assures them of their full support.

It provides moral and financial support to families of different cultures and faiths to expedite procedures related to the funeral.

Reporting to Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, the volunteer team is supported by federal and local government entities including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority, Community Development Authority and the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department.

With the backing of these entities, the volunteer team has launched several COVID-19-related humanitarian initiatives that follow the innovative service approach developed by the City Makers of the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai to improve shared government services.

"The team is composed of remarkable committed volunteers who are determined to demonstrate the humanitarian values of the UAE through initiatives on the ground. The team’s efforts add to Dubai’s standing in the global community as a city and society steadfastly committed to humanitarian and inclusive values," said Ahmed Huraimel.

In collaboration with Dubai Municipality, the volunteer team has trained and qualified people to deal with deceased females and provided safety training for non-Muslims.

It also launched food distribution drives in Dubai during the period of intensified movement restrictions, in partnership with the Red Crescent Authority in Dubai and other charitable societies.

In once case, the team completely managed the funeral of a woman who died from COVID-19 in a private hospital in Dubai according to her family’s request. In another case, the team fulfilled a request from the son of a deceased man to send him a photo of his father’s grave.

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— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 1, 2021