First week of ‘10 million meals’ sees distribution of 1.8m meals

More than 1.8 million meals were distributed to low-income individuals and families most affected by the coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak in UAE within the first week of ‘10 million meals’ campaign.

The UAE’s biggest community campaign saw the distribution of over 1.3 million hot meals and 10,000 food parcels, collectively totaling 1.8 million meals in the first week of its launch. Laborers and low-income families across the country received an average of 300,000 meals daily.

Under the supervision of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and the Social Solidarity Fund Against COVID-19, meals and food parcels were delivered in a logistical distribution network developed in collaboration with partnering entities to reach beneficiaries across the country.

An integrated plan was put in place to gather numbers and addresses of low-income individuals and families and those most vulnerable to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the UAE in a database.

Muna Alkindi, CEO of MBRGI, said, “To implement the ’10 million meals’ campaign, the UAE’s biggest food distribution food, we had to develop an integrated plan with a specialised team to work together in full coordination to achieve the campaign’s objectives quickly and effectively.”   

Alkindi added that the campaign’s team has coordinated the work of different sections early on to manage food catering, sterilization, packaging, loading and transport, leading up to the nationwide distribution network. “The result of the campaign is to ensure quick delivery of healthy, nutritious and safe meals and food parcels to beneficiaries across the country. “

 She noted that the solid coordination among federal and local entities and humanitarian organizations has been the main factor of the success of the campaign’s first phase, facilitating food delivery to people most in need.

Alkindi added, “The widespread support for the campaign has highlighted the commitment of UAE communities to stand with the vulnerable at times of crisis.”

Within the first week of its launch, the ’10 million meals’ campaign received overwhelming response as entities, companies and the general public rushed to make financial and in-kind contributions that exceeded the target to provide more than 11 million meals.

Private entities and humanitarian organizations collectively donated 9.6 million meals for individuals and families affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Nearly 39,000 donors provided the value of 412,000 meals through SMS and 7,000 donors paid for 859,000 meals on the website. In-kind donations received through the campaign’s call center totaled 163,000 meals.

The ’10 million meals’ campaign enables companies, entities, humanitarian and charitable organisations, businessmen, philanthropists and the public to make financial and in-kind contributions towards providing meals or donating food items and parcels to be directly distributed to families and individuals across the UAE.   

Titled the UAE’s biggest community campaign, it aims to provide food assistance to families and individuals who have lost their income or got affected directly or indirectly by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It coincides with the Holy Month of Ramadan, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to lending a helping hand to every person in need. The campaign fosters the values of generosity and compassion, key aspects of the blessed month.    

Donors can make financial contributions through the campaign’s website, or via SMS and bank transfers. In-kind donations are received through the campaign’s call center through 8004006.

NTDE DONATION

In a continuous pour of contributions, the National Trading and Developing Enterprises (NTDE) has donated food items worth Dhs750,000 to enrich the diversity of meals distributed to coronavirus-affected communities in the UAE as part of the ’10 million meals’ campaign.  

The NTDE, UAE’s leading distribution and logistics provider, donated 322 Haagen Dazs ice cream boxes to be distributed to over 30,000 individuals, and 32 tonnes of frozen chicken, 25,000 date packs, juice and tea boxes and ‘Nature Valley’ granola packets to beneficiaries throughout the holy month of Ramadan.