The united arab emirates: The United Arab Emirates has launched a series of global Ramadan initiatives and campaigns, reflecting its steadfast commitment to promoting the values of compassion, tolerance, and giving.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiatives span continents and are distinguished by innovative ideas and approaches, further cementing the UAE's position as a beacon of humanitarianism. They underscore the country's leadership in extending support to those in need wherever they may be. At the onset of the Holy Month, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, initiated the '11.5: Edge of Life' Ramadan campaign, aiming to rescue 5 million children worldwide from hunger. This campaign specifically targets children in the world's most vulnerable communities, particularly in disaster, crisis, and conflict zones, where malnutrition and hunger claim the lives of five children under the age of five every minute.
The Emirates Red Crescent has announced that over 1.5 million people within the UAE and across 44 countries are benefiting from its Ramadan programs this year. These initiatives, at an estimated cost exceeding AED60 million, are part of ongoing efforts to alleviate humanitarian conditions in several countries. The Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people remain a central focus of UAE initiatives during Ramadan. An aid ship, Umm Al Emarat, departed for the Gaza Strip on February 12, carrying over 7,300 tonnes of food items, shelter materials, and medical supplies to bolster food security and strengthen the urgent humanitarian response for affected families.
Furthermore, H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, has directed the launch of a humanitarian air bridge to deliver relief aid to the Gaza Strip during the Holy Month under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3. This operation supports the Palestinian people by transporting food parcels, medical supplies, essential items for children and women, and urgent basic necessities, contributing to meeting the living requirements of affected families during Ramadan. Through Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, the UAE continues to dispatch humanitarian aid convoys to the Gaza Strip as part of sustained relief efforts to support the Palestinian people and alleviate their suffering.
The Big Heart Foundation has launched the second edition of its Ramadan campaign, For Gaza, which builds on last year's initiative to support orphaned children in the Gaza Strip. The campaign aims to provide comprehensive and sustained care, including custom prosthetic limbs, physical rehabilitation, and psychological and social support. In Mauritania, a delegation from the International Charity Organisation, led by Dr. Khaled Abdulwahab Al Khaja, Secretary-General of the organization, visited the country to supervise the implementation of 90 charitable projects benefiting impoverished villages and the most vulnerable groups.
Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has launched its Ramadan campaign under the slogan Feed a Child, Build a Kitchen. This initiative harnesses the spirit of the UAE's Year of Family to ensure no child learns on an empty stomach. The campaign will support a planet-friendly school meals program starting in Kenya, with plans to expand across Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming collective generosity into sustainable nourishment, greater opportunity, and enhanced resilience for children and their families facing hunger and malnutrition. This launch coincides with data indicating that over 90 percent of children in Africa lack access to a balanced diet, with 60 percent of children in Kenya suffering from malnutrition, directly impacting their attendance, concentration, and academic performance.