DUBAI // The UAE is setting up a food bank to reduce food waste and feed people in need in the country and abroad.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday announced the creation of the UAE Food Bank, before the anniversary of his accession on Wednesday.
He said the initiative was part of the recently announced Year of Giving, "which aims to instil benevolence in the hearts of our people".
Food was chosen as the first initiative of this year because it is a basic human need. “We seek to engage numerous social organisations and volunteers in a system of giving, following Sheikh Zayed’s example of altruism,” Sheikh Mohammed said in reference to the UAE’s Founding President.
“We hope the spirit of generosity spreads in and beyond the UAE through ambitious humanitarian initiatives throughout the Year of Giving.”
We seek to engage numerous social organisations and volunteers in a system of giving, following Sheikh Zayed's example of altruism
pic.twitter.com/OP9gWiEBJDThe food bank will work with authorities and charities to collect excess food from hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and farms.
It will store and package the food for distribution.
The food bank will operate under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives foundation, an umbrella organisation for humanitarian groups and programmes.
Dubai Municipality will provide operational support in line with international food safety guidelines. Volunteers will receive health and safety training.
Inedible food will be recycled for use as fertilisers, chemicals and medicinal research.
The UAE loses Dh13 billion each year in food waste, according to the Dubai Media Office. It said the food bank also aimed to help Dubai become the first in the region to achieve zero food waste.
Last year, experts at the World Summit on Food Security said more efforts were needed to reduce food waste in the UAE, calling it a global problem.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, said the food bank reflected the UAE’s traditions and called it an “exceptional initiative”, Wam reported.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
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Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
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THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
