Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi to deliver 100,000 food baskets to needy families

Donations from the public have funded a major drive to support those worst affected by the financial fallout of Covid-19

Salama Al Ameeri, director general of Ma’an, has praised the Abu Dhabi community for being at their best at a turbulent time for many. Satish Kumar/The National

Abu Dhabi is to deliver tens of thousands of food baskets to support families hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Embattled residents who have lost out on crucial income due to the damaging financial impact of Covid-19 will be in line for vital aid under the initiative rolled out by the emirate’s Authority of Social Contribution, or ‘Ma’an.

The humanitarian scheme has been funded by donations pledged by members of the public through the authority’s ‘Together We are Good’ campaign.

It is being operated in partnership with Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, with applications for help to be accepted from Sunday.

About 100,000 food baskets will be provided to those in need, with deliveries set to begin on May 1.

Food items have been sourced from retailers Lulu Group, Abu Dhabi Co-op and Al Ain Co-op.

“Our community has pulled together in an unprecedented way this last month to respond to the current health and economic challenges that are impacting not only Abu Dhabi, but the rest of the world,” said Salama Al Ameeri, director general of Ma’an.

“Together We Are Good and Ma’an has been the channel for those generous contributions from Abu Dhabi’s community and these food baskets are just one of the many ways that people’s contributions are helping to ease the situation for affected individuals.

“By working together, we will ensure that the most vulnerable in our community receive the support they need during this period. I encourage people to come forward and apply through our website.

Iraqi health workers at a hospital in the central Iraqi city of Karbala. AFP

A worker disinfects a street to prevent the spread of the coronavirus during a state of emergency in Rabat, Morocco. AP

The deserted Corniche Beirut seaside promenade during the lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA

Syrian workers unload medical supplies from China at the International Airport in Damascus, Syria. EPA

Dancers of the Palestinian Jafra Dabke Team perform a traditional dabke dance for people confined because of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown in the village of Tarqumia, north-west of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

A policeman wearing protective gear as a precaution against the coronavirus guards a security checkpoint in Gaza City. AFP

Released women prisoners meet their families as they get off a bus near Bakirkoy women's prison in Istanbul. AFP

A man walks on a bridge near a bus station in Istanbul a day after Turkish President ordered a fresh lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus. AFP

A released woman prisoner hugs her mother after alighting a bus near Bakirkoy women's prison in Istanbul. AFP

Members of a Palestinian family look at Al Mathaf hotel, where their relatives are quarantined, to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, in Gaza City. AFP

A staff member at a coronavirus screening tent at Al Bashir hospital in Amman, Jordan. EPA

Workers unload medical supplies from China at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers, Algeria. EPA

Members of the medical staff at the Mohammmed V military hospital during the coronavirus pandemic crisis, in the Moroccan capital Rabat. AFP

People wearing a face mask drive past empty shops during a state of emergency in Rabat, Morocco. AP

"I also continue to urge the community to consider how they can contribute to ‘Together We Are Good’ - each contribution is highly valued and appreciated and is having a direct impact on the lives of people in our community.”

The food baskets contain staples such as rice, pasta, dates, beans, tea, jam and noodles. For those with young children, baby supplies will also be provided.

To obtain support, applicants must reside in Abu Dhabi, have lost some or all of their income temporarily (such as through unpaid leave) and have not previously received support from another government agency.

The food aid will run every three months and is dependent on the number of family members in the household.

The “Together We Are Good” was set up to allow the public to donate money to help people affected by social challenges.

It is part of a wider Social Fund already used to support the health sector and deliver food packages to people in quarantine.

This week, Ma'an launched a new toll-free helpline (800-3088) and a website for those in need of relief to contact them.

Information on how to contribute to the fund is also available on the website.