UAE minister says ‘100 Million Meals’ to reach those most in need

Dubai: The ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign, launched by the UAE on Sunday, can create the momentum needed to tackle hunger and malnutrition in the developing world, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs said.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, who is also Secretary-General of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), said this year’s Ramadan campaign, the largest food drive in the region, reflects the UAE’s commitment to growing its efforts to support global humanitarian causes and to strengthen its status as an active contributor on the global sphere.

The UAE’s regional and international humanitarian projects continue to impact millions of lives across the world. Al Gergawi added: “The UAE has a long history of standing with people from all walks of life in the most difficult times. This year’s campaign takes our commitment to humanitarian causes further than ever before, as we aim to provide food for more than 100 million people in low-income areas across 20 countries.”

The ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign aims to provide food parcels for disadvantaged individuals and families across 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa during Ramadan, which Al Gergawi encouraged people from inside and outside the UAE to support. He said the campaign is an open invitation to all – from the business community to philanthropists, and the government and private sector – to support people in need during Ramadan.

People and organisations inside and outside the UAE can donate the cost of basic foodstuffs starting from Dh1 – the equivalent cost of ingredients needed to prepare a meal in the lowest-income communities in beneficiary countries including Uganda, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Angola, Jordan and Pakistan.

The ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign is organised by MBRGI, in collaboration with the World Food Programme, Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), regional network of food banks, and specialised humanitarian and charity institutions in beneficiary countries to ensure widespread distribution of food parcels to underserved homes and villages.

Boumelha called on the UAE citizens and residents to donate, regardless of how little the amount is. “Every dirham counts and every dirham makes a difference to someone in need in countries just hours away from us. This region-wide campaign enables us to come together to make a difference in as many lives as possible.”