The UAE's humanitarian drive to deliver 100 million meals to needy people across the region is fast approaching its lofty goal.
More than Dh86.8 million has been donated since the 100 Million Meals campaign was launched on Sunday, April 11, beforeRamadan.
Every Dh1 donated helps to provide one meal in one of 20 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the initiative would offer crucial assistance to the 52 million people in the Middle East and North Africa region who are undernourished.
"We will work with humanitarian associations, companies, businessmen and philanthropists in the UAE to send 100 million messages of goodness and love to the needy and the poor in the month of goodness," he said on Twitter.
"Distributing food is the best thing to do to bring us close to the month of fasting."
A website set up for the campaign allows people to donate as little as Dh10 to fund 10 meals, rising to Dh500 or more.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, which organised the 100 Million Meals campaign, joinedinternational and local partners in each beneficiary country to deliver the parcels.
Poor families, refugees, orphans and widows in Jordan, Egypt and Pakistan started receiving ingredients that will help them to prepare meals throughout the holy month.
Donations poured in from far and wide, from businesses and high-profile figures to caring members of the public, to provide help where it is needed most.
How to serve up support
UAE residents and citizens can donate through the phone providers Etisalat and Du.
To donate, text the word “meal” to the following numbers:
1034 for a Dh10 contribution
1035 for a Dh50 contribution
1036 for a Dh100 contribution
1037 for a Dh300 contribution
1038 for a Dh500 contribution
Larger donations can be made via the campaign’s call centre on 800 4999.
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
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THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
