His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai has launched the “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign during the holy month of Ramadan. The campaign aims to establish a food endowment fund as a sustainable means to fight and eradicate hunger worldwide. Its objective is to mobilize local, regional, and international efforts to combat hunger within a sustainable institutional framework.
According to Sheikh Mohammed, 828 million people globally suffer from hunger, meaning one in ten people. As humans and Muslims, it is our responsibility to help those in need, especially during Ramadan. Sustainable contributions can make a more significant impact than a one-time large contribution. The “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign reflects the UAE’s moral obligation to take a leading position in global efforts to eradicate hunger and alleviate suffering.
The campaign is an expansion of the UAE’s previous Ramadan campaigns, including “1 Billion Meals,” “100 Million Meals,” and “10 Million Meals.” It will create a sustainable and resilient food aid system that combats hunger and contributes to international efforts to provide a food safety net for vulnerable groups. It will also support victims of conflicts, natural disasters, and crises worldwide, further enhancing the UAE’s contribution to international efforts aimed at eradicating hunger.
The food endowment fund will allow institutions, companies, businessmen, and individuals to contribute to sustainable humanitarian work that supports community and social development projects. Effective partnerships are crucial in creating sustainable solutions to fight hunger, as well as implementing clear programs and targeted plans that fight hunger and support vulnerable groups.
The “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign reflects Sheikh Mohammed’s philosophy of converting the act of giving into a sustainable framework that reflects the UAE’s cultural and humanitarian aspects. It solidifies the UAE’s standing as one of the first responders in times of crisis and needs. The campaign is launched at a time when the world is witnessing economic challenges, natural disasters, conflicts, crises, and an increase in poverty, necessitating specific programs and initiatives that help alleviate the suffering of millions of people worldwide.
The FAO’s “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” 2022 report revealed that 828 million people worldwide were affected by hunger in 2021, representing 9.8 percent of the world’s population. One in ten people does not have enough food to eat. The report also indicated that 45 million children under the age of five suffer from wasting, the most fatal form of malnutrition that increases the risk of child death by 12 times. Furthermore, 149 million children under the age of five suffer from stunted growth and development due to a chronic lack of essential nutrients in their diets.
The “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign is an ongoing success story for the UAE. In 2020, the “10 Million Meals” campaign secured 15.3 million meals for low-income families and individuals. The “100 Million Meals” campaign launched in 2021 secured around 220 million meals for vulnerable groups worldwide, and the 2022 “1 Billion Meals” campaign hit its target in less than a month thanks to the contributions of 320,868 donors, providing meals to those in need across 50 countries.