WFP Partners with the UAE’s 1 Billion Meals Initiative to Provide 5.4 Million Meals to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
DUBAI — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), as a strategic partner of the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has successfully distributed 5.4 million meals to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, as part of the 1 Billion Meals Initiative. This milestone marks a significant step in addressing food insecurity among one of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The distribution effort utilized instantly redeemable smart vouchers, allowing 20,000 beneficiaries to purchase essential food items from WFP-certified suppliers. This innovative approach provides recipients with direct aid while preserving their dignity.
“For the 1 Billion Meals initiative to reach beneficiaries in one of the largest refugee camps in the world is a logistical challenge by all means. However, MBRGI, in partnership with UN’s WFP, succeeded in overcoming this challenge and distributing the equivalent of 5.4 million meals to individuals and families in the Cox’s Bazar camps in Bangladesh” said Sarah Al Nuaimi, Director of MBRGI. She emphasized the use of innovative solutions to deliver timely aid, reflecting MBRGI’s commitment to impactful humanitarian work.
Cox's Bazar, the largest refugee settlement globally, shelters nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees, including 490,000 children. “Hunger is on the rise worldwide, and threatening more than 800 million people.” said Mageed Yahia, WFP Representative to the GCC Region, he added “In Bangladesh, the 2022 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis appealed for more than US$881 million to support approximately 1.4 million people, including Rohingya refugees and most affected host communities. Hence, the distribution operations of the 1 Billion Meals initiative, in collaboration with WFP, arrived at an ideal time, offering food support to the underprivileged.”
The initiative operates across 50 countries, addressing food insecurity through strategic partnerships with global organizations like WFP, UNHCR, and local humanitarian institutions.
Al Nuaimi reiterated the UAE’s values of inclusivity and generosity: “Successfully reaching vulnerable groups, including refugees and displaced people, translates MBRGI’s and the wider UAE’s values by extending a helping hand and providing assistance to everyone around the globe, without discrimination or exception.”
The partnership between WFP and MBRGI underscores a shared commitment to expanding humanitarian efforts and addressing the growing needs of underprivileged communities worldwide.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.
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About the 1 Billion Meals Initiative
Organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the 1 Billion Meals initiative is under the Humanitarian Aid and Relief pillar, which is one of five pillars that MBRGI operates its initiatives and programs. The 1 Billion Meals initiative builds on earlier efforts and successes to provide a food security net to those in need across 50 countries in four continents.