Dubai: The UAE’s massive ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign has reached its target of raising Dh100M from 185,000 donors in just 10 days after it was announced on April 11, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) announced on Thursday.
MBRGI added donations continue to pour into the region’s largest food drive aimed at providing timely support to disadvantaged individuals and families across 30 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America this Ramadan.
The campaign’s target is to provide basic food items, sufficient to prepare up to 100 million meals. Every Dh1 donated will help provide one meal for beneficiaries in targeted countries including Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Angola, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Palestine.
Food parcels are distributed in collaboration with 12 food banks, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), and various humanitarian organisations in beneficiary countries.
“Food relief packages empower vulnerable communities to prepare their own meals throughout the holy month of Ramadan,” the MBRGI said in a statement.
Intrinsic humanitarian values
The ‘100 Million Meals’ is an expansion of the UAE-wide ‘10 Million Meals’ campaign last year. Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary-General of MBRGI, said: “The campaign’s success to raise donations to provide 100 million meals within 10 days reflects the inherent humanitarian values that run deep through the UAE society. Through its principles of giving, compassion and cooperation, the UAE is always ready to aid those in need around the world.”
“The selfless desire of the people of UAE to contribute to the campaign mirrors the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform sustainable and systematic charity and humanitarian work into a community culture in the UAE,” he added.
Al Gergawi noted donors have created a safety net to provide aid, relief and food support to the most impoverished groups in the targeted countries. “Besides achieving its target, the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign has created a nationwide social momentum that reflected the culture of philanthropy deeply rooted in the lifestyle of people in the UAE, boosting the country’s pioneering status in the field of humanitarian work,” he added.
Generous contributions from all Segments of Society
According to MBRGI, in just 10 days, cash donations have flowed in from 185,000 companies and individuals, raising Dh100 million. “Online and SMS donations have reached Dh11 million, while direct bank transfers to the campaign’s account amounted to Dh40 million. The MBRCH and Dar Al Ber Society topped the list, each with Dh20 million donation.”
Food distribution
In an earlier interview, MBRGU director Sara Al Nuaimi told Gulf News food being distributed are sourced locally, meaning food distributed in Bangladesh, Jordan or Palestine are sourced within the country. “This will give people the flexibility to prepare their own food and also to ensure that the food will be sufficient for them for a long time. In some areas or countries, health and sanitation kits are also distributed,” she explained.
MBRGI noted low-income families, orphans, widows and refugees in several countries have received food parcels in the first week of the campaign. Moreover, in collaboration with the UN’s WFP, 20 per cent of all food parcels were dedicated for refugee camps in Palestine, Jordan and Bangladesh.
How to donate
Donations are still accepted to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign which are done in four ways: through the campaign website, via 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.
