1 Billion Meals distributes 5.4 million meals to refugees in Bangladesh

A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) found that close to 1 million Rohingya refugees, 490,000 of whom are children, in the camps by Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, which has been dubbed as the largest area to accommodate refugees.

Smart Solutions to Logistical Challenges

Sarah Al Nuaimi, Director of MBRGI, said: “For the 1 Billion Meals initiative to reach beneficiaries in one of the largest refugee camps in the world is a logistical challenge by all means. However, MBRGI, in partnership with UN’s WFP, succeeded in overcoming this challenge and distributing the equivalent of 5.4 million meals to individuals and families in the Cox’s Bazar camps in Bangladesh.”

Smart vouchers

Al Nuaimi highlighted that adopting instantly redeemable smart vouchers that provide food aid to beneficiaries is part of MBRGI’s keenness to deliver support directly to those who need it, to preserve their dignity and continue innovative and impactful humanitarian work.

Al Nuaimi added: “Successfully reaching vulnerable groups, including refugees and displaced people, translates MBRGI’s and the wider UAE’s values by extending a helping hand and providing assistance to everyone around the globe, without discrimination or exception.”

Global Contribution in Facing Humanitarian Challenges

For his part, Mageed Yahia, WFP Representative to the GCC Region, said: “Hunger is on the rise worldwide, and threatening more than 800 million people. In Bangladesh, the 2022 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis appealed for more than US$881 million to support approximately 1.4 million people, including Rohingya refugees and most affected host communities. Hence, the distribution operations of the 1 Billion Meals initiative, in collaboration with WFP, arrived at an ideal time, offering food support to the underprivileged.”

Yahia pointed out that the initiatives’ distribution of the equivalent of 5.4 million meals in Bangladesh is a valuable addition to the existing partnership between WFP and MBRGI. He highlighted the importance of continuing this bilateral relationship to broaden the reach of humanitarian work and respond to the growing needs of underprivileged communities.

Support Directly to Beneficiaries

The assistance provided by the 1 Billion Meals reached 20,000 people in Cox’s Bazar camps, enabling them to obtain basic food items from local suppliers through an identification code they receive on their mobile phones, ensuring that support reaches them in a timely manner.

Partners

The 1 Billion Meals initiative provides food support to beneficiaries throughout 50 countries across the globe, in coordination with partners such as United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Food Banking Regional Network (FBRN), the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), the UAE Food Bank, as well as local charity, humanitarian and social work institutions in beneficiary countries.

1 Billion Meals Initiative

Organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the 1 Billion Meals initiative is under the Humanitarian Aid and Relief pillar, which is one of five pillars that MBRGI operates its initiatives and programs. The 1 Billion Meals initiative builds on earlier efforts and successes to provide a food security net to those in need across 50 countries in four continents.