SHEIKH MOHAMMED UNVEILS PLAN FOR 100 MILLION RAMADAN MEALS
▶ Donations of as little as Dh10 will help to feed some of the 52 million undernourished people across the region
The UAE unveiled a plan to fund 100 million free meals in 20 countries across the region, in one of the biggest food drives of its kind.
Speaking on the eve of Ramadan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled a campaign to ensure people in need do not go hungry.
He said the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continued to be felt, and that there were 820 million undernourished people in the world, including 52 million in the Middle East and North Africa.
A website set up for the campaign allows people to donate as little as Dh10 to fund 10 meals.
“Brothers and sisters, the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed many people to unprecedented survival challenges,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.
“Fifty-two million people just four hours away from us are threatened with hunger.
“Today, we launched a 100 million meals campaign. It is the largest campaign of its kind to feed people and distribute 100 million meals to 20 countries in the region.
“We will work with humanitarian associations, companies, businessmen and philanthropists in the UAE to send 100 million messages of goodness and love to the needy and the poor in the month of goodness.
“Distributing food is the best thing to do to bring us close to the month of fasting.”
The campaign is an expansion of last year’s 10 Million Meals campaign, which helped people who lost their jobs or suffered salary cuts during the pandemic.
It also worked to feed people who would normally break their fast at free iftars at mosques and public places, but could not do so because of restrictions.
Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Angola, Uganda and Egypt are among the countries that will benefit this year.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives will co-ordinate with the Food Banking Regional Network and UN World Food Programme to reach the people who need food most this Ramadan.