Ramadan Tents Replaced by Meals Distribution in the UAE

In a press conference held Sunday via video conference, the Emirates Red Crescent announced the launch of its Holy Month of Ramadan campaign, under the theme, “Be the Change,” and said that Ramadan tents will be replaced by the distribution of Ramadan meals.

 ERC will distribute free Iftar meals to 1.2 million UAE residents and expand Iftar meal distribution to cover 571,312 people in other disadvantaged countries as well.

Dr Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary-General of the ERC, said the regular Ramadan tents that were always held nationwide, will be replaced with home-delivered meals at 112 locations around the UAE.

“Food parcels are to be home delivered to 600,000 workers and 81,600 vulnerable families and elderly people, along with 140,000 frontline medical workers, and thousands of families and foreign communities affected by the pandemic.”

He added that 150,000 people will benefit from Ramadan meals distributed in 26 locations in Abu Dhabi, 20 locations in Al Dhafra, 19 locations in Al Ain, 47 locations in the Northern Emirates while 14,666 people will benefit from the distribution of Eid clothes.

Under the directives of H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the authority is expanding the scope of its Ramadan initiatives this year to limit the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Around 1 million and 771 thousands and 312 people will benefit from these initiatives

— الهلال الأحمر الإماراتي (@emiratesrc) March 21, 2021

Fahad Abdulrahman bin Sultan, Deputy Secretary-General for Development and International Cooperation, said 406,625 people in many countries will benefit from the ERC’s Ramadan Iftar programmes.

“These include 146,602 people to be supported from the ERC Zakat Al Fitr programmes, and 18,085 people who are to benefit from the ERC Eid clothes programmes.”

Mohamed Suhail Al Muhairi, CEO, Dar Al Ber, said they are geared up to contribute Dh111 million over the seasonal Ramadan campaign locally and globally this year. “These include Dh50 from the mandatory Zakat, and Dh61 million from optional alms and charity.”

Al Muhairi added that they are to spend Dh3 million as Iftar meals this Ramadan. “Thousands of nutritious meals are to be contributed to hundreds of thousands of poor workers at their labour camps nationwide and abroad.”

Zakat, worth Dh1.3 million, are to be distributed to a list of eligible families whose cases have been thoroughly studied by the Society staff social workers, he revealed. “Eid clothes, worth Dh811,579, will be contributed to thousands of local and global orphans and children of indigent families.”

Dar Al Ber has so far spent Dh48 million for reducing the impact of the Coronavirus (Covid019) global pandemic, Al Muhairi stated. “Thousands of people, hit by the pandemic, have been supported by the Society,” he said, urging philanthropists to chip in the seasonal campaign.

Abdeen Taher Al Awadhi, Director General of Beit Al Khair Society, said despite the crisis, Beit Al Khair managed to execute an outstanding Ramadan campaign last year during which they spent Dh92.1 million out of Dh100.4 million it spent to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on affected people.

“Beit Al Khair hopes to collect more donations during this campaign to assist over 55,000 registered families and cases who are eagerly anticipating relief.”

The Society has a competent field team trained to carry out charitable campaigns, Al Awadhi underlined. “This team managed to set a new world Guinness record by distributing 8,997 meals in 2.52 hours to poor workers,” he said. 

Image Source: WAM