Dubai Holding partners with UN body to feed children in need

Dubai Holding has partnered with the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) for 'A Meal for a Brighter Tomorrow' campaign for the holy month of Ramadan.

The campaign pledges to ensure school meals reach children in need across the region including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

It'll mobilise Dubai Holding's work force and the wider community to raise funds through the UNWFP's app ShareTheMeal to support children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are honoured to join the United Nations World Food Programme in its fight against hunger worldwide and contribute towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a better, more prosperous future for all. Dubai Holding operates For the Good of Tomorrow, and all our companies share the vision of unlocking opportunities to help people, businesses and communities thrive in Dubai and beyond," said Amit Kaushal, Group CEO of Dubai Holding.

"Recently, we have redoubled our focus on sustainability in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and through this partnership, we will be able to take our commitment to the next level."

Dubai Holding, UN World Food Programme partner to feed children across region#WamNews https://t.co/TUHdWaXWrP

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) April 12, 2021

According to UNWFP, about 73 million school children around the world go to school hungry.

In the MENA region alone, millions of primary and secondary school aged children are out of school as a result of poverty and conflict-induced displacement. In this context, school meals provide a strategic, cost-effective and efficient way to bring children back to school and reduce school dropout.

"We welcome this partnership with Dubai Holding which comes at a time when the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and their families are dire," said Mageed Yahia, Director of UNWFP UAE Office and Representative to the GCC.

"Providing school meals during this Holy month of Ramadan will help UNWFP make a difference in children’s lives as part of our continuous efforts to help communities reach food security and build resilience. We value our work with partners like Dubai Holding on initiatives that reflect the important role and powerful impact of private sector engagement in the region and beyond," he added.

Dubai Holding’s efforts will support UNWFP scale up and improve its school feeding programme to help build a world with zero hunger.