Ramadan 2022: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launches One Billion Meals campaign

Initiative will run until the goal of raising enough money to feed the hungry has been met

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  During Ramadan last year the UAE met its target of raising enough donations for 100 million meals within ten days. All photos: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives

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  The total was reached thanks to the generosity of 185,000 donors.

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  Donations poured in from individuals and corporations, from both the UAE and the rest of the world.

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  There are 800 million people in the world who go to sleep hungry every night.

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  About 52 million people living in the Mena region do not have enough food to eat.

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  The One Billion Meals Campaign will begin at the start of Ramadan and continue until its goal is met.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the campaign to donate one billion meals to the poor and hungry around the world.

Announced last month, One Billion Meals encourages people to donate money for food. It will run until the target is met.

Writing on Twitter, Sheikh Mohammed said the initiative will be the largest campaign to fight hunger in the world.

“During Ramadan we will be able to feel the suffering of 800 million people going to sleep hungry every day,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“We have one billion humane and noble messages to send out from the UAE to the world.”

The campaign’s motto is: “A person who sleeps with a full stomach while his neighbour is hungry is not a believer.”

Food parcels are being distributed in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme, the Food Banking Regional Network, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, and humanitarian organisations in countries where the need is greatest.

The One Billion Meals campaign aims to help the vulnerable in 50 countries, supporting efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end hunger by 2030.

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  The 100 Million Meals campaign has successfully distributed 10,868,400 meals in the UAE, in collaboration with the UAE Food Bank. All photos: UAE Government Media Office

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  Organisers said there were a total of 362,280 beneficiaries in the UAE, made up of 182,916 low-income families and 179,364 low-income individuals.

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  The 100 Million Meals campaign aims to provide food to those in need across more than 30 countries.

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  People involved in the project are hard at work.

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  Generous public donations have helped to raise enough money to exceed initial targets.

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  Sara Al Nuaimi, director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global initiative.

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  Eng. Dawood Al Hajri, vice chairman of the board of trustees of the UAE Food Bank.

How to donate

The One Billion Meals campaign website has details of several options for donors.

Money can be pledged online, either monthly or by a one-off donation. You can donate by SMS message through Etisalat or Du and you can send money by a bank transfer.

For big monetary donations and related enquiries, contact the campaign’s team 800 9999.

Successful campaigns

During Ramadan 2020, a 10-Million-Meals campaign supported communities hit by Covid-19 across the UAE, and last year's 100 Million Meals campaign provided food parcels and instant smart vouchers to millions of people across four continents.

Organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the total was reached thanks to the generosity of 185,000 donors, which included individuals and companies inside and outside the UAE.

Last year's 100 Million Meals campaign provided support such as food parcels and instant smart vouchers to millions of people across four continents, including in Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, Tunisia, Iraq, Egypt, Kosovo, Brazil, Benin, Burundi, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Senegal, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Angola, Sierra Leone, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The series of food campaigns started with the locally held 10 Million Meals that supported communities hit by Covid-19 across the UAE during Ramadan in 2020.