How Dubai charities helped world fight Covid challenges in 2020

Dubai - Noor Dubai continued its work of providing eyecare to those most in need, providing free surgeries and reaching thousands of people around the world.

As the world reeled under the unprecedented challenges wrought by the pandemic, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI) stepped in to spread hope in every way possible — from sending urgent relief to treating the sick, safeguarding kids’ education, boosting innovation, and empowering communities.

The MBRGI’s annual report, released on Monday, reflected how the office exerted every effort to send help where help is needed the most. In 2020, it rolled out massive humanitarian aid and relief projects that reached 34.8 million people — nearly doubling its 17 million beneficiaries the previous year.

Under the MBRGI’s humanitarian aid and relief pillar were Dh382 million worth of projects, which were run by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), the International Humanitarian City, the UAE Food Bank, the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE), and the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy.

“The year 2020 was an unprecedented challenge due to the coronavirus outbreak, and that’s exactly why our efforts doubled...to serve the needy and make a real difference in people’s lives. The MBRCH and our teams endeavoured to accelerate operations to provide the necessary healthcare, ensure the continuity of education and the availability of water, safe housing and warm living conditions to more than 2.1 million people from low-income communities in Arab, Asian and African countries,” said Ibrahim Bu Melha, deputy chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MBRCH.

The MBRCH’s programmes and initiatives reached 2.1 million people across Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Senegal, Uganda, and Ghana in 2020.

Among the most notable MBRGI projects in 2020 was the 10 Million Meals campaign, the local version of the ongoing 100 Million Meals drive. Launched in Ramadan last year, it provided 15.3 million meals to Covid-19-hit individuals and families across the UAE, with the help of 130,000 donors and 1,000 volunteers.

With the emergence of one of the worst healthcare crisis of this generation, the MBRGI’s healthcare arm stepped up efforts not only to fight the pandemic but also to keep an eye on future outbreaks.

Its ‘healthcare and disease control programmes and projects’ — led by Al Jalila Foundation and Noor Dubai amounted to Dh49.6 million in 2020, benefitting 38,000 people.

Al Jalila Foundation witnessed the launch of the Dh300-million Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute, the first independent biomedical research centre in the UAE. Responding the urgent need for in-depth research into biomedicine, preventive medicine and epidemiology, it is establishing advanced and tech-driven research tools to proactively monitor potential outbreaks.

The foundation also continued its mission of funding the treatment of patients in need, especially those with life-threatening diseases.

Noor Dubai continued its work of providing eyecare to those most in need, providing free surgeries and reaching thousands of people around the world.

Education was another significant sector that the MBRGI poured its investments into. Learning initiatives worth Dh265 million reached 45.5 million people in 2020.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com