The UAE's 100 Million Meals campaign has delivered crucial support to three African nations.
More than 750,000 meals were distributed to people in Tanzania, Kenya and Senegal in the latest phase of the global mission to ensure people in need never go hungry
Local authorities and charities joined forces with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment to hand out food parcels containing rice, flour, oil and sugar, which can be used to prepare meals.
One food parcel can sustain a family of five for one month.
The start of the 100 Million Meals campaign was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, shortly before the start of Ramadan.
It had the lofty goal of providing 100 million meals to people across 30 countries.
But it more than doubled its target, with generous donations from the public raising enough money to pay for 216 million meals by the end of the fundraising scheme.
Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha, adviser to Ruler of Dubai for cultural and humanitarian affairs and Deputy Chairman of the charity establishment's Board of Trustees, said the campaign embodied the principles of the UAE.
“The 100 Million Meals campaign, which delivers food support to communities in need across 30 countries, reflects the values of kindness and generosity which are deeply embedded in the fabric of the UAE’s society," he said.
"Philanthropy and taking the initiative to help people across the world regardless of race, colour or nationality, have been at the core of the UAE’s philosophy.”
“The completion of the distribution of food parcels in three new countries provides an immediate safety net for thousands of families in need and empowers them against hunger and malnutrition, while strengthening the UAE’s global humanitarian role.”
UAE works with embassies to offer a helping hand
Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, said the UAE's embassies and other diplomatic missions were vital to the success of the project.
“The UAE’s embassies and diplomatic missions abroad, in co-ordination with local authorities and charity organisations, play a vital role in the success of field and logistical operations to deliver the food aid provided by the 100 Million Meals campaign,” he said.
In co-ordination with the UAE embassy in Dar es Salam in Tanzania, 240,000 meals were delivered. These went to the Wete district on Pemba Island, the Makonde and Bangui districts on Unguja Island in Zanzibar, as well as in the Kigoma region in north-western Tanzania.
The UAE embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, supported the distribution of 342,000 meals in the capital, as well as in the Mombasa, Asilia, Wajir and Lamu regions, while the UAE mission in Dakar worked with Senegal's Al Wasaat Charity Association to provide 172,800 meals in Tivawan and Gombe.
100 Million Meals campaign saves lives across the world
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The 100 Million Meals campaign raised enough funds to provide 216 million meals around the world. -
As part of the campaign, 12 food banks and nine humanitarian organisations are distributing the food parcels in 30 countries -
Twenty per cent of the parcels have been allocated to people in need in Palestine and refugees in Jordan and Bangladesh. -
Charity auctions played an important role in helping raise money for the campaign. -
The 100 Million Meals campaign will benefit people in 30 countries. -
Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives partnered with several humanitarian organisations to deliver food parcels to people’s doorsteps. UAE Government Media Office -
Groups involved include the World Food Programme, the Food Banking Regional Network and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment. -
Food aid will reach beneficiaries in countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. -
MBRGI partnered with several humanitarian organisations to deliver food parcels. -
Charity auctions also played an important role in helping raise funds for the campaign. -
The ‘Most Noble Numbers’ charity auction auctioned off a prestigious single-digit car plate, AA9, for Dh38 million. -
An international charity art auction was organised for the campaign. -
A total of 385,000 donors from 51 countries supported the humanitarian drive. Money for 20 million meals was secured through text message and website donations, while cash for 70 million meals was raised from private-sector contributions.
