Having amassed one billion Dirhams (272 million dollars), the 1 Billion Meals initiative achieved its goal, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, contributing 400 million meals after the campaign had received 600 million meals worth of donations from more than 300,000 individuals.
The campaign aims to provide food to underprivileged communities in 50 countries.
Sheikh Mohammed commented on the success Wednesday, saying: “Today, we conclude the ‘One billion meals’ initiative after collecting a record 600 million meals donated by 320,000 individuals, entities, businessmen and companies.”
“The ‘one billion meals’ campaign reflects the true values of the people of the UAE, and their empathy towards the struggles of others, amid the rising food security challenges the world is presently facing,” he added.
For his part, Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, which collaborated with several partners to reach this milestone in record time, said that achieving the goal in less than one month after the campaign’s launch strengthens the UAE’s position as a global hub for philanthropy and humanitarian work that does not see race, color, gender, or religious belief.
The 1 Billion Meals initiative has worked with international, regional and local partners, including the World Food Program, the Emirates Food Bank, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and charitable, humanitarian and social work associations in the countries covered by the initiative in order to maximize its effectiveness.
