UAE's 1 Billion Meal drive achieves target; Sheikh Mohammed to donate 400 million meals

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced beneficiaries had donated a record 600 million meals towards the one billion meals initiative, the largest of its kind in the region.

Sheikh Mohammed will provide the remaining 400 million meals through a personal donation to feed people in need across 50 countries.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid tweeted Wednesday, “Today, we conclude the ‘One billion meals’ initiative after collecting a record 600 million meals donated by 320,000 individuals, entities, businessmen and companies.”

He said, “The ‘one billion meals’ campaign reflects the true values of the people of the UAE, and their empathy towards the struggles of others, amid the rising food security challenges the world is presently facing.”

The Dubai leader personally thanked all those who contributed to the UAE’s biggest humanitarian food drive, which would reach 50 countries across the world.

The initiative, launched at the beginning of Ramadan, continues last year’s 100 Million Meals, which surpassed its target, collecting and distributing 220 million meals.

Moreover, money raised from two charity auctions contributed towards reaching the final amount. The first most noble numbers charity auction in Dubai raised Dh 53 million, and the auction in Abu Dhabi raised Dh 111 million.

The campaign has already begun to provide aid for refugees, displaced individuals and families, and crisis-stricken communities in 13 countries including Jordan, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Angola and Uganda. The campaign has attracted overwhelming participation since its launch, crossing the halfway mark in three weeks. It crossed the halfway mark by collecting Dh 530 million after the second charity auction in Abu Dhabi.

Scores of members of the business community, government departments, and individual donors contributed towards the noble cause.

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Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives expanded its network of partners from humanitarian, charitable and relief institutions around the world to include the UN World Food Programme, the Food Banking Regional Network, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UAE Food Bank, the Dar Al Ber Society, the Dubai Charitable Society, and local charitable, humanitarian and social organisations in several beneficiary countries.