Day: April 2, 2022

DUBAI, The One Billion Meals initiative, the largest campaign of its kind in the region, begins its drive to distribute vital food support to the underprivileged and vulnerable in 50 countries today, coinciding with the first day of the Holy month of Ramadan.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said via his Twitter account: “Today, we begin the One Billion Meals campaign, the largest food drive to battle hunger in 50 countries around the globe. Ramadan is a Holy month where we promote empathy and solidarity with the 800 million hungry people.

His Highness highlighted that there is a real humanitarian crisis due to hunger and lack of food security. He added that the campaign will deliver one billion humanitarian messages from the UAE to the world.

Starting today, the campaign will open its donation channels to individual and corporate donors from within the UAE and around the world.

Donors can contribute to the One Billion Meals campaign through the following donation channels – the campaign’s official website: www.1billionmeals.ae; bank transfer to the campaign’s account at Emirates NBD, number: AE300260001015333439802. Donors can also opt to donate AED1 a day through a monthly subscription by sending “Meal” or “????” via SMS to 1020 on the du network or 1110 on the Etisalat network. Donations can also be made through campaign’s call centre via a toll-free number 8009999.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), highlighted that the UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and guided by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, continues to spread its humanitarian message to the world. The UAE is committed to contributing to the advancement of quality of life worldwide, preserving humanity and minimizing suffering in needy communities.

He said: “Innovative humanitarian initiatives such as One Billion Meals strengthen the UAE’s status as an impactful contributor to international efforts to face humanitarian challenges. The UAE, in line with the directives of its wise leadership, is taking a unique approach to elevate charitable and humanitarian work, and has been able to achieve a qualitative leap in improving relief aid.”

He added: “Giving is an inherent part of Emirati culture, and generosity is a characteristic of the people in the UAE, whose hands are always extended, ready to assist, both inside and outside the country.”

The One Billion Meals initiative welcomes the participation of all individuals and organizations, and provides them with a sustainable option to support the underprivileged and the under-nourished. The campaign, the largest of its kind in the region, inspires the values of giving and extending a helping hand through charitable and humanitarian work by focusing on the concept of sustainable community financing to provide food support and food security to those in need. It opens the door for participation to everyone, whether by donations or through media, logistical and field support.

Organized by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the One Billion Meals campaign aims to support the neediest around the world by providing food aid of all kinds in line with the spirit of the Holy month of Ramadan.

The One Billion Meals campaign builds on the success of the 100 Million Meals campaign, which ran during Ramadan last year and exceeded all its targets to collect 220 million meals and distribute them around the world. The One Billion Meals campaign will now target a new milestone in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, especially among vulnerable groups of children, refugees, displaced persons and victims of disasters and crises. The target of One Billion Meals initiative is to collect an additional 780 million meals and distribute them over 50 countries around the world.

To achieve the one billion meals target, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives has expanded its network of partners from humanitarian, charitable and relief institutions around the world to include the UN World Food Programme, the Food Banking Regional Network, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UAE Food Bank, the Dar Al Ber Society, the Dubai Charitable Society, and local charitable, humanitarian and social organizations in several beneficiary countries.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, After 182 days of unforgettable experiences, Expo 2020 Dubai has drawn to a close, having recorded 24,102,967 visits, welcomed 192 countries and shown the world what can be achieved when humanity comes together.

As the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and the first event of its size and scale to be held since the pandemic began, Expo 2020 Dubai marked a major achievement for Dubai and heralded a historic moment for the UAE – made even more significant by being hosted in the year of the nation’s Golden Jubilee – and paved the way for the next generation of change-makers to continue Expo’s legacy.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, said, “After an incredible six months, we are immensely proud to have staged a World Expo that has connected minds, created the future and inspired the world. Expo 2020 Dubai is a triumph that will go down in history as a beacon of unity and hope – a tremendous honour for the UAE as we celebrated our 50th year and a defining moment in the history of our nation. My sincere and heartfelt congratulations to our leadership for their vision and guidance in staging an exceptional World Expo that befits our ambitious nation.”

Expo 2020 Dubai has been hailed as a huge success and a beacon of hope, bringing together the international community in a show of resilience in uncertain times, and overcoming a raft of challenges, including the global pandemic, which necessitated its one-year postponement and restricted global travel, and adapting to new variants with an agile and robust health-and-safety response.

Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General, Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “From the beginning of this incredible Expo journey, our country’s leadership promised an Expo that would amaze the world. Despite the inconceivable challenges, including the pandemic, a new variant, and conflicts in different parts of the world, we have delivered on this promise with purpose and passion.

“We have presented world-class entertainment, we have shared our cultures and ideas, and we have sought solutions to some of our greatest global challenges. And this is just the beginning of the new world we have started making together.

“We owe our sincere gratitude and respect to everyone who has come together to become part of this – from our 30,000-strong volunteer force, to the dedicated Expo Tribe, our Participants and Partners, and of course the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee. This has been a truly collective effort and a shining manifestation of our theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. Until we meet again, I thank each and every last one of you.”

Expo 2020 Dubai came to an end in spectacular style in the early hours of Friday (31st March), as Reem Al Hashemy closed the breath-taking Entry Portals for the final time, following an emotional Closing Ceremony that honoured Expo’s iconic moments.

Source: Emirates News Agency