UAE Ramadan campaign secures 15.3 million meals for less fortunate

UAE’s community Ramadan campaign to provide 10 million meals for the less fortunate concluded on Saturday (May 16) with 15.3 million meals donated.

The campaign that was announced in April called on companies, humanitarian and charity organisations, philanthropists and the general public to make financial contributions towards meals or donate food items to low-income families and individuals, particularly communities hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, tweeted that more than 1,000 volunteers are working to distribute the food.

Today, we concluded our humanitarian ‘10 million meals’ campaign. Over 100,000 participant from 115 nationalities helped secure 15.3 million meals. More than 1,000 volunteers are working daily to distribute food. All segments of the UAE society united to help people in need.

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) May 15, 2020

Online donations accounted for 1.4 million meals while 771,535 were provided by SMS donations, according to state news agency WAM. In-kind donations brought in 726,392 meals.

Companies and entrepreneurs pledged 5.7 million meals, and humanitarian and charity organisations secured 6.8 million more.

Part of the donations from charity organisations came from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment that donated 20 million dirhams ($5.45 million) at the beginning of Ramadan, and later followed with an additional 9 million dirhams to secure 3.62 million meals, according to WAM.

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