Global hunger cannot be eradicated completely but the world can try to ease the burden on those affected, the chief executive of the Egyptian Food Bank has said.
Mohsen Sarhan said everyone was “full of bright ideas” but “there was nothing more to discover in the world of hunger”.
Speaking to The National on Thursday, Mr Sarhan said now was the time do just do something about it.
“It cannot be ended as a global issue,” said Mr Sarhan, on the sidelines of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development conference. “But the best we can try to do is to make life a little bit easier on those who are affected.”
Crisis made worse by misunderstanding
The situation is severe. According to the UN in 2023, 66.1 million people − about 14 per cent of the population in the Arab region – faced hunger. A further report in 2024 stated that globally between 713 and 757 million people faced hunger – including one out of every five in Africa.
Mr Sarhan said blaming the hungry was a common theme, especially among the privileged, who assume the poor don’t want to work.
“'They do not want to work. They're just too lazy. They can't stick to a job,' − I hear that all the time,” said Mr Sarhan.
He said a major part of the EFB's funding goes to giving families food subsidies and people told him that “you are encouraging them not to work”.
But he said the families they give this aid to are either elderly or disabled people or female-led households where the woman works at least three jobs and still cannot afford enough food.
“So, that's where we step in,” he said. “Poverty is a structural issue. You don't get to choose which family you were born into or which country or which economic conditions,” he said. “And then poverty breeds more poverty, which we call in our business the poverty trap.”
He pointed to a programme launched by the bank two years ago, where they empower women to become farmers − with crops such as in dates, beans and lentils − and then purchase the produce from them.
The food bank was established in 2006 and, while its mandate is to help the most vulnerable in Egypt, it has also worked across the region in Algeria, Lebanon, Sudan and most recently in Gaza. It has also teamed up with the UAE’s 100 Million Meals campaign to provide food to low-income families during Ramadan.
Reflecting on global aid funding reductions from the US, Mr Sarhan said this had done “tremendous damage” globally − including in Egypt.
He pointed to the cuts to the World Food Programme that provides support to the needy across the world.
“These people got switched off in a moment with one decision,” he said. “I don't think that's right.”
When asked if the gravity of the situation gets him down, Mr Sarhan said it “could kill you, but again, what I'm trying to do is be very micro-focused”.
He added that “today, was a very good day. We try to celebrate it. Tomorrow, it hasn't come yet.”
'Mounting obstacles'
The Dihad event this year aims to tackle the issue of humanitarian aid in a polarised world. Michela Matuella, director of the emergency response co-ordination centre within the directorate-general for the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, earlier told attendees the world was in an era of increasing fragility where “blatant violations” of international humanitarian law have become “alarmingly frequent”.
“There are mounting obstacles to delivering aid to those most in need,” she said. “Access is denied. Workers are killed, hospitals and schools are attacked. Children are caught in the crossfire. The number of people forced to flee their homes continues to rise and the escalating climate crisis further intensifies global humanitarian needs.”
Ms Matuella said in 2025 an estimated 305 million individuals in the world will require urgent aid and protection yet the gap between resources and needs was widening. “This is real human suffering,” she added.
But Ms Matuella issued a call to action stating humanitarian aid had to be delivered in tandem with long-term thinking and financing − harnessing everyone from the private sector to philanthropic organisations.
“I have a very simple message to convey,” she said. “As the winds of isolationism whip across the world, the EU will remain a strong, reliable and committed humanitarian partner. You can count on us.”
Dihad 2025 – in pictures
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
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4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
THE SPECS
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
Schedule
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2013-14%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Youth%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2015-16%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%20World%20Masters%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENovember%2017-19%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Professional%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Championship%20followed%20by%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20World%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Awards%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool 0
Stoke City 0
Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
LIVERPOOL%20TOP%20SCORERS
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
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Lewis Hamilton in 2018
Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
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7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Small%20Things%20Like%20These
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
The biog:
Languages: Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, basic Russian
Favourite food: Pizza
Best food on the road: rice
Favourite colour: silver
Favourite bike: Gold Wing, Honda
Favourite biking destination: Canada
