DUBAI: The Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (Amaf) aims to distribute one million ready-to-eat food packets to help refugees in distress. The refugees, who are susceptible to starvation, need immediate attention.

Secretary General of Amaf Tayeb Al Rais told the Gulf Today on Monday that the ready-to-eat food packets, prepared and packed in the New Zealand facility of the charity body, are distributed among the refugees, irrespective of their religious background, race or any other difference. The target beneficiaries not only lack food, but they are also homeless and in the face of dire circumstances.

“What we see here is a sudden and timely intervention to save lives from death arising out of starvation. We have now produced three ready-to-eat meals, two non-vegetarian and one vegetarian, for supplying among the refugees as part of our mission to reach the needy at the right time,” said Al Rais from the Amaf pavilion at the 13th Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD 2016).

He also revealed that the humanitarian organisation, run by Dubai Government, recently concluded negotiations with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as a key partner towards supporting its objectives of assisting countries, through its humanitarian aid programme.

According to the concluded negotiations, WFP will distribute the food items through its platforms around the globe (particularly at the refugee centres) to ensure that the aid reaches the eligible people, he said.

Furthermore, the food packets are available in shops across the country. One can extend a helping hand to a starving refugee by buying a packet at Dhs10. Al Rais called upon residents to join and back the humanitarian cause.

He revealed that Amaf will soon sign an MoU with the UN body.

The charity body will also announce another humanitarian undertaking, in addition to the salma initiative, by the end of the year.

Al Rais said: “Under the guidance of our visionary leadership, the UAE has a proven track record of providing   seamless   and   timely assistance to the needy across the  globe. salma provides emergency and  sustainable food assistance to anyone, anywhere.We are delighted to be working with WFP and our other global partners dedicated to providing humanitarian aid.”