With the holy month of Ramadan upon us, and in a reflection of Dubai's commitment to the charitable spirit of Ramadan, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the launch of the One Billion Meals Endowment Campaign. This campaign aims to eradicate world hunger and establish sustainable and long-term assistance for those in need, in line with the integral aspect of charity during Ramadan.
Managed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), one of the largest regional foundations committed to humanitarian efforts, the campaign aims to mobilize local, regional, and international organizations towards achieving the goal of providing hundreds of millions of meals to people in need. Sheikh Mohammed stated that the ultimate aim of this endowment project is to provide hundreds of millions of meals in a sustainable way for decades to come, ensuring ongoing charity for the people of the UAE and uninterrupted goodness.
According to a United Nations report, world hunger has been on the rise in recent years. With the World Food Programme estimating that 345.2 million people may not have food security in 2023, more than double the number in 2020. In addition, the Food and Agriculture Organization revealed in a report last year that 45 million children under the age of five suffer from wasting – the most fatal kind of malnutrition. These alarming statistics highlight the importance of campaigns like the One Billion Meals Endowment Campaign in addressing the issue of world hunger.
This latest campaign builds upon previous efforts by Sheikh Mohammed to target hunger around the world. In 2020, the campaign provided 10 million meals, while in 2021, it provided 100 million meals. The target for this year is to provide one billion meals, and similar to these previous efforts, the endowment campaign is looking for contributions from institutions, companies, businessmen, and individuals. This campaign will not only help those in need but will also strengthen the UAE's contribution towards global humanitarian efforts in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, allowing the emirate to support victims of conflicts, natural disasters, and crises around the world.
Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement about the campaign, "our goal is to provide hundreds of millions of meals in a sustainable way for decades to come through this endowment project, ensuring ongoing charity for the people of the UAE and uninterrupted goodness, God willing."
