Dubai: A total of 20.5 million meals are being sent to Palestine and refugee camps in Jordan and Bangladesh as part of the UAE’s 100 Million Meals campaign, the region’s largest food drive this Ramadan.
The move comes following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and UN World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday. Under the partnership MBRGI) will dedicate 20.5 million meals, which WFP will distribute in the form of food vouchers to vulnerable families and individuals in the said countries.
The MoU was signed by Saeed Al Eter, MBRGI assistant secretary general, and Abdel Mageed Yahia, director of WFP office in the UAE and Representative to the GCC, in the presence of Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and MBRGI secretary-general.
The partnership forms a food safety net for a period of one to two months for tens of thousands of vulnerable families, including refugees, whose lives and livelihoods depend upon this much-needed assistance.
Growing humanitarian action
Al Gergawi said: “Global partnerships between charity and humanitarian organisations expand the geographical coverage and increase the number of beneficiaries, especially among the most impoverished groups given the exceptional circumstances that the world is going through today.”
He noted coordination raises the standards of field and logistical work in implementing these initiatives in accordance with international best practices.
Al Gergawi added that “the UAE was named the world’s sixth largest donor to WFP in 2019, with a contribution of US$270 million (Dh985.5M). This clearly reflects our keenness to actively participate in global efforts to end hunger and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” He also praised the role of WFP in helping the campaign reach the needy around the world.
Solidarity against hunger
Yahia from WFP commented: “We are honoured to take part in the 100 Million Meals campaign, a vivid example of how communities come together in solidarity and exceed expectations when led by an exemplary leader like His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.”
Yahia from WFP commented: “We are honoured to take part in the 100 Million Meals campaign, a vivid example of how communities come together in solidarity and exceed expectations when led by an exemplary leader like His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.”
“In a time when hunger is threatening the lives of millions around the world, the funding most generously mobilised by MBRGI, will help WFP secure the continuous supply of critical food assistance for highly vulnerable and food insecure families, a most needed support during the Holy Month of Ramadan,” he added.
Urgent assistane
In an earlier exclusive interview, Yahia told Gulf News: “The world needs initiatives like the UAE’s 100m Meals Campaign. There are around 500,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan’s Zaatari and Azraq camps while up to 900,000 Rohingya refugees are in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, which now hosts the largest refugee camp in the world. Around two million Palestinians — representing 40 per cent of the total population — are also estimated to be food insecure who need urgent assistance. In the MENA region, more than 52 million people are undernourished — most of them women and children.”
Yahia added food campaigns complement WFP’s ongoing large-scale assistance programmes and provide greater impact and flexibility to build a more resilient future.
Global campaign
MBRSGI said distribution of food parcels to low-income families, orphans, widows, refugees, displaced persons, and camp residents has been ongoing in several beneficiary countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Angola, and Ghana, in coordination with regional and local partners. Donations also continue to pour in for the campaign, which has already achieved its target in just 10 days after it was launched on April 11.
How to donate
Donations to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign can be made in four ways: website, SMS, bank transfer and call Centre. People inside and outside the UAE can donate online through the website www.100millionmeals.ae or through a bank transfer to the campaign’s account at Dubai Islamic Bank (AE080240001520977815201). Local donations can be made by sending “Meal” by SMS on specified numbers for du or Etisalat listed on the website. Big monetary donations can be made through reaching out to the campaign’s team on the toll-free number 8004999.
