Today's Edition
DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
Under the directives and supervision of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Chairperson of the UAE Food Bank, an initiative under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) umbrella, the UAE Food Bank has implemented an initiative that focuses on effectively managing surplus food, minimising waste, and globally distributing it to the beneficiaries.
During the holy month of Ramadan, the initiative aims to gather and distribute more than five million meals to deserving individuals through collaborative efforts with partners.
The goal is to distribute at a daily rate of 166,666 meals to feed over half a million families and more than three million workers.
The initiative's efforts highlight the values of kindness, generosity, charity, and social welfare.
The bank’s commitment to supplying meals to beneficiaries encompasses diverse sub-initiatives and campaigns, including Your Iftar is on Us, No for Wasting Food, Cook of Thousand Meals, Food Parcel, and Iftar with the Workers.
Additionally, 25 educational programmes will be implemented to raise awareness of environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and volunteering.
Expecting widespread support, the Food Bank is anticipating a large number of strategic partners and supporters from food facilities, hotels, and companies, exceeding a total of 350.
More than 5,000 volunteers will participate in supporting the bank’s initiatives throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
Furthermore, the bank will sign five partnership agreements aimed at strengthening its efforts in efficiently managing surplus food and minimising waste in cooperation with the private sector.
Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Food Bank, H.E. Dawoud Al Hajri, underscored the significance of the bank’s initiatives during the holy month of Ramadan.
He further highlighted the bank’s role as a comprehensive humanitarian system and a pioneering global institution that prioritizes the value of food provision.
With a focus on managing surplus food, minimising waste, and distributing food to beneficiaries around the world, the bank operates within a well-structured institutional framework, he added.
These efforts align seamlessly with the UAE’s core values of kindness and generosity, its commitment to humanitarian work, and its support for global food security, sustainable development goals, and the fight against hunger, he noted.
Al Hajri said, “With these initiatives, our objective is to promote responsible food management and reduce food waste. We further aspire to cultivate a sense of social responsibility, encourage volunteerism, and actively engage in gathering and distributing financial and food donations to beneficiaries."
He continued, "Our efforts are aimed at instilling values of compassion, generosity, and solidarity within the community, ensuring the efficient distribution of surplus food to the widest possible segment during the holy month of Ramadan.”
Al Hajri also emphasised the bank’s goal to divert 975 tonnes of food waste, away from landfills during the holy month of Ramadan, equivalent to planting 102,135 trees annually.
This commitment aligns with the bank’s dedication to environmental sustainability, aiming to create a positive environmental impact in all campaigns and initiatives. These efforts also contribute to the broader objectives of reducing carbon emissions and achieving a 30 per cent reduction in food waste by 2027, he concluded.
'Your Iftar is on Us’ initiative
As part of this programme, the Food Bank is set to gather meals for distribution to beneficiaries both within and outside the UAE.
Aiming to provide 350,000 meals generously donated by more than 50 different organisations, the campaign will be organised by seven entities, with the participation of several volunteers collaborating to ensure its successful implementation.
Donate a Food Parcel Initiative
This initiative aims to gather contributions in the form of food parcels through the purchase of vouchers redeemable at local retail stores.
Food parcels are expected to supply up to 1.5 million meals, aligning with the UAE Food Bank’s commitment to ensuring families have sufficient access to food and actively participate in the fight against hunger.
Iftar with Workers initiative
The bank is organising an initiative focused on providing iftar meals to over 2,000 workers in Dubai.
The main goal is to foster community solidarity and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of workers.
Cook of Thousand Meals initiative
Among the upcoming plans is the ‘Cook of Thousand Meals’ competition, which is an event convening aspiring chefs to cook and distribute 4,000 meals daily over five days during the holy month of Ramadan in the UAE.
Organised in partnership with Taya Production, the initiations will be implemented in collaboration with 200 donors from fruit and vegetable markets, commercial enterprises, and wholesale markets to redistribute surplus food and prepare meals adhering to high-quality standards for the well-being of workers.
The goal is to provide up to two million meals and distribute any surplus cooked meals from local restaurants and hotels.
‘No for Wasting Food’ initiative
This programme strives to recycle food thaat is no suitable food for human consumption. The aim is to divert it from landfills, transform it into fertilisers, and then distribute it to farmers in the Hatta region, with the goal of recycling 1.5 million meals.
The initiative will be implemented in cooperation with the National Food Loss and Waste initiative ‘Neama’ and partnership with the private sector.
