UAE Food Bank Initiates Distribution Of 5 Million Meals For Ramadan

The UAE Food Bank has unveiled a significant initiative this Ramadan, aiming to distribute five million meals under the guidance of H.H. Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the UAE Food Bank and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. This initiative falls under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and is designed to manage surplus food efficiently, reduce waste, and extend support to beneficiaries worldwide, reflecting deep-rooted values of kindness and social welfare.

With a daily goal to provide 166,666 meals, the initiative aims to support over half a million families and more than three million workers throughout the holy month. The UAE Food Bank's strategy includes several sub-initiatives like 'Your Iftar is on Us', 'No for Wasting Food', 'Cook of Thousand Meals', 'Food Parcel', and 'Iftar with the Workers'. Additionally, 25 educational programmes are set to be launched to promote environmental sustainability and encourage volunteering.

The bank anticipates collaboration with over 350 strategic partners from various sectors, including food facilities and hotels. This extensive support network is complemented by the dedication of over 5,000 volunteers who will assist in the bank's operations during Ramadan. Furthermore, five partnership agreements are expected to be signed to bolster efforts in managing food surplus and minimizing waste effectively.

Dawoud Al Hajri, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Food Bank, highlighted the bank's comprehensive approach towards humanitarian aid and its pioneering role in global food provision. "Our initiatives are focused on promoting responsible food management and minimizing waste while fostering a culture of social responsibility and volunteerism," Al Hajri stated. He also emphasized the bank's commitment to diverting 975 tons of food waste from landfills during Ramadan, an effort equivalent to planting 102,135 trees annually.

Among the initiatives, 'Your Iftar is on Us' aims to collect 350,000 meals for distribution both within and outside the UAE. The 'Donate a Food Parcel' initiative encourages contributions through vouchers redeemable at local retail stores, aiming to provide up to 1.5 million meals. Additionally, an initiative will provide iftar meals to over 2,000 workers in Dubai, recognizing their invaluable contributions.

The 'Cook of Thousand Meals' competition will see aspiring chefs preparing 4,000 meals daily over five days during Ramadan. This event is organized in partnership with Taya Production. Moreover, collaboration with 200 donors from various markets will ensure the redistribution of surplus food and preparation of high-quality meals for workers, aiming to provide up to two million meals.

The UAE Food Bank's 'Food Rescue' initiative focuses on recycling unsuitable food for human consumption by transforming it into fertilisers. This effort is in collaboration with the National Food Loss and Waste initiative 'Neama' and aims to recycle 1.5 million meals of surplus food for distribution to farmers in the Hatta region.

Since its establishment in 2017, the UAE Food Bank has successfully distributed meals to over 35 million beneficiaries worldwide. This year's Ramadan initiatives underscore the bank's ongoing commitment to combating hunger, reducing waste, and promoting sustainability and social responsibility across communities.

With inputs from WAM