Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Food Bank revealed that the number of operational sites of the Food Bank has become five after the opening of UAE Food Bank branches in Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman in order to contribute to the promotion of charitable work through the use of all efforts and energies to establish the concepts of participation and charity with its human dimension.

"We are striving to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make the Bank an integrated humanitarian system that enhances the spirit of mutual support and cooperation in the community by taking advantage of the surplus food within a sustainable organizational framework so that all citizens and residents are an active part of this charitable and humanitarian approach, as well as contributing to food security by reducing wastage of food,” he said.

“Her Highness Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of UAE Food Bank has instructed us to reach out to the needy everywhere within a sustainable organizational framework that underlines the values of UAE nationals and enhances the legacy of Late Sheikh Zayed,” said Al Hajri.

He praised the efforts and achievements of the UAE Food Bank, which resulted in the distribution of 7,943 tons of food since the start of the bank in 2017 until the end of April 2019, the signing of agreements with 50 food establishments, 13 charities and three partnerships with other food banks in the Arab world.

During the same period, Food Bank fridges were distributed, including 80 fridges in Dubai's mosques, 10 in Ajman and 10 in Ras Al Khaimah.

Al Hajri explained that since its inauguration, the UAE Food Bank Food Bank has to its credit a number of outstanding achievements. “Since the beginning of 2019 until the end of April, the Food Bank has distributed 554 tons of food. The Bank had distributed a total of 2,645 tons of food in 2018, while the amount of food distributed in 2017 was 2,142 tons,” he said.

Al Hajri added that the UAE Food Bank has formulated a special program for the holy month of Ramadan, through which it will prepare about 3,500 Iftar and Suhoor kits daily throughout the month and also distribute the bank's fridges in cooperation with Careem, in addition to other programs that are involved in charitable work.

"The UAE Food Bank embodies one of the initiatives of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. It was launched in 2017 under the leadership of the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Her Highness Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of UAE Food Bank. It aims to collect surplus food, distribute it to the needy and reduce waste of food, within an integrated humanitarian, social, economic and cultural system, and deals professionally with surplus food under the supervision of the competent authorities and distribute it inside and outside the country in collaboration with a network of a number of local and international humanitarian and charitable organizations,” he pointed out.

Al Hajri added that the inauguration of the new operational sites of the UAE Food Bank in Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman is a new indicator of the Bank's performance, in line with its strategic vision of "the world's best sustainable and widespread food bank" and benefiting from the country's great legacy in the field of humanitarian work, which was established by Late Sheikh Zayed, whose name is a permanent symbol of humanitarian and charitable work in the UAE and the world, due to his good works that contributed to alleviating the suffering of many people of the world and the UAE Food Bank is working to establish the UAE identity associated with the relief of victims as well as the love for charity and unity and integrity.

“Through this institution, we seek to involve the largest number of community organizations and volunteers in a new system of charity and generosity that follows the footsteps of our founding fathers. We also seek to consolidate this aspect in our new generations by giving everyone the opportunity to be part of a lasting charitable and humanitarian approach that the UAE lives to reach new heights, as Zayed wanted and as he instilled in his people,” he said.

During the holy month of Ramadan 2018, the UAE Food Bank had reached a remarkable achievement, which included the distribution of thousands of Iftar and Suhoor kits to various segments of the society in cooperation with government agencies, charities in the country and private sector companies, achieving the Bank's objectives of providing food to the needy and reducing food wastage as well as supporting charitable and humanitarian initiatives and strengthening the principles of charity work.

During last year’s Ramadan, 49,700 Iftar kits were distributed, in addition to 23,500 Suhoor meals, in cooperation with a group of sponsors such as Sadia, Al Islami Food, Caesar’s Catering, Lulu Hypermarket, West Zone Supermarket, Al Marai, Barakat, STC, Zahrat Al Madaen, Farzana General Trading, Dubai Golf Club, Brokat Catering, Modern Bakery Alia General Trading, Al Habtoor Grand Hotel, Nusret Restaurant, Essa Al Ghurair, and Al Hamr Kitchen.

In addition, a partnership agreement was signed with Careem to receive and deliver the foodstuffs donated by the people through the Food Bank, in accordance with specific criteria and requirements, the most important of which are the health and safety conditions of the food and its delivery to those in need at the Emirate level. An average Careem collected 13 meals per day reaching a total of 377 meals last Ramadan.