EHS distributed Dar Al Ber Society donation boxes and envelopes to all Dubai World business units. The donations will be distributed among orphans and the poor by Dar Al Ber Society.

Ahmed Abdul Hussain, CEO, EHS, said he firmly believes in the right of every human being to sufficient nutrition and a healthy life. It is disheartening to know that every night an estimated 854 million people go to sleep on an empty stomach.

Rally to eradicate hunger

“We are taking a major role in creating awareness about the need to eradicate hunger, and yesterday’s programme was aimed at combining efforts to fight poverty and also to draw attention to this humanitarian cause,” Abdul Hussain said.

On the occasion, Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Minister of Environment and Water, said that UAE is making great efforts to achieve food security.

Importance of farming sector

He highlighted the importance of the farming sector as one of the main mechanisms to contain and eradicate hunger. “Modernisation of diverse agriculture — from crops, poultry and dairy to livestock — will definitely lead to a booming farming sector that is capable of satisfying the growing demand by the ever-increasing population,” he said.

“Despite its harsh climate, the UAE has expanded arable acreage and increased productivity to achieve self-sufficiency in some crops,” he said.

Mobilise efforts

He appealed to the world community and all UN organisations to mobilise efforts to create a firm political will to eradicate hunger. “All members of the international community — from governments, producers and consumers of food, NGOs, UN, and researchers to academicians — are demanded to rally against hunger,” he affirmed.

He commended the recent Dubai Cares campaign launched by Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which seeks to provide education to one million poor children around the world.