Sheikh Mohammed launches initiative to provide 100 million meals across 20 countries

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign to provide food during the holy month of Ramadan.

Via the initiative, food parcels will be provided to families and people in need across 20 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. This scheme is an extension from last year’s locally-held ’10 Million Meals’ campaign.

Businessmen, companies and the public inside and outside the UAE are invited to make financial donations to the campaign that will distribute food parcels, sufficient to provide 100 million meals, in countries including Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Angola, Uganda and Egypt, official news agency WAM reported.

Donations, starting from Dhs1, can be made through the website www.100millionmeals.ae or through a bank transfer to Dubai Islamic Bank account with IBAN number: AE080240001520977815201.

Donations inside the UAE can also be made through SMS (Etisalat and Du) by texting “Meal” to numbers listed on the website depending on the number of meals selected for donation. Meanwhile, the campaign’s call centre will receive big donations via a toll free number 8004999.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) will carry out the campaign in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme, the Food Banking Regional Network, humanitarian and charity organisations in beneficiary countries, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), and UAE federal and local entities.

سنعمل مع الجمعيات الانسانية والشركات ورجال الأعمال وأهل الخير في دولة الإمارات لإرسال ١٠٠ مليون رسالة خير ومحبة للمحتاجين والفقراء في شهر الخير ..إطعام الطعام خير ما نتقرب به في شهر الصيام.. وبلادنا محفوظة بهذا الخير الذي تقدمه https://t.co/r39GdhBPeq pic.twitter.com/XVkMB5guZj

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 11, 2021

The campaign is part of UAE’s response to global efforts to combat world hunger, exacerbated by the Covid-19 outbreak. The campaign also aims to support the international community in achieving the second of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger by 2030.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the need to unify efforts and leverage necessary resources to combat world hunger. “Four hours away from us are 52 million people battling hunger. We need to take urgent action to empower underserved communities,” he added.

“We will work with humanitarian organisations, companies, entities and humanitarians to join us in securing 100 million meals to bring a sense of safety to underserved homes across the world.”

More than 820 million people are undernourished globally, including 52 million people across the MENA region. Malnutrition contributes to about 45 per cent of deaths in children under 5 years of age and hunger claims a child’s life every 10 seconds.

The ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign also aims to raise awareness on reducing food waste and to promote responsible food consumption.