One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
Somewhere in the world a community is facing catastrophe. They have no food and no means to cook it. Malnutrition and death are just days away.
In these circumstances, lives may hang on a simple packet of biscuits.
High energy biscuits to be exact, packed with energy and micro-nutrients. Each packet is enough to feed a person for one day.
This week saw the announcement that Princess Haya bint Al Hussein contributed to a new fund to allow the rapid purchase of stocks of the biscuits, to be managed by the UN World Food Programme.
The gesture by the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was described as “a life saver” by David Beasley, the executive director of the WFP, who called the princess “a true champion for people facing hunger and poverty".
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Read more:
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Dubai aid air-drop will help 500,000 Rohingya refugees
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To the layman's eye, the biscuits look unexceptional and not particularly enticing.
But that’s not the point, says Stefano Peveri, a senior logistic officer at the WFP and the UN Humanitarian Response Depot Dubai manager.
“They’re not as tasty as you would buy in the supermarket,” he says.
“But they are very nutritious and packed with micronutrients.”
The formula has changed over the years. The first biscuits were designed to provide a high energy boost and could be kept for up to two years.
The current recipe delivers a more sophisticated package, but has a shelf life of just 12 months.
The WFP is working to make this longer, says Mr Peveri.
Manufacturing takes place at a number of approved centres around the world. The closest factory to the UAE is in Oman, but owned by a Sharjah company.
The biscuits are kept in 100-gram foil packets and stored in a Dubai warehouse. The current stock is a 150 metric tonnes – or enough for 1.5 million people.
What happens next is dependent on rapid response.
Often the first sign of trouble is spotted by a local or country office of the WFP. It could be a natural disaster, like a famine or drought, or a refugee crisis provoked by persecution or conflict.
In recent years, the WFP has supported Muslim Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh and displaced rural populations flocking to the Somalian capital Mogadishu looking for food.
Supplies were also sent to the Philippines in 2013 after Typhoon Haiyan, and Afghanistan in 2014.
In 2016, the WFP bought 2.6 million tonnes of food worth US41.36 billion and delivered 3.5 million tonnes of food to 74 countries.
In the same year, Humanitarian Response Depots, like the one in Dubai, sent out more than 87,000 tonnes to 12 countries on behalf of 170 organisations.
The biscuits are usually the only food source in the first instance, says Mr Peveri. The dire circumstances of those in need often mean they have no means of cooking:
“So there is no point in giving them beans or wheat," he says.
The biscuits, he explains, are only intended as a stop gap “for three or four days” until more long term support can be brought in with other agencies.
They can be particularly useful for refugees still on the move.
“We can supply them half way and give them a vital boost of energy," Mr Peveri says.
Once a local office has identified a problem, the regional hubs, such as Dubai, are contacted. Flights are then chartered and supplies of the biscuits sent to the most local airport to the affected population.
From here, the biscuits are loaded on to lorries or helicopters.
“But we have also used elephants and camels”, says Mr Peveri. “Whatever works best.”
Speed is obviously of the essence. The WFP aims to have the assessment of needs and the funds made available for transport within 24 to 48 hours of being alerted.
A similar time period applies to delivering supplies to those most a need. “Not only do you need to have the biscuits available in places like Dubai, you need to be able to move them fast,” says Mr Peveri.
“I believe in this project, big time,” he says. “It saves lives.”
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH RESULT
Liverpool 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Liverpool: Salah (26'), Lovren (40'), Solanke (53'), Robertson (85')
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Poacher
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The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20several%20factors%20for%20landlords%20to%20consider%20when%20preparing%20to%20establish%20a%20holiday%20home%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3ERevenue%20potential%20of%20the%20unit%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20location%2C%20view%20and%20size%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EDesign%3A%20furnished%20or%20unfurnished.%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Is%20the%20design%20up%20to%20standard%2C%20while%20being%20catchy%20at%20the%20same%20time%3F%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20model%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20will%20it%20be%20managed%20by%20a%20professional%20operator%20or%20directly%20by%20the%20owner%2C%20how%20often%20does%20the%20owner%20wants%20to%20use%20it%20for%20personal%20reasons%3F%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuality%20of%20the%20operator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20guest%20reviews%2C%20customer%20experience%20management%2C%20application%20of%20technology%2C%20average%20utilisation%2C%20scope%20of%20services%20rendered%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Adam%20Nowak%2C%20managing%20director%20of%20Ultimate%20Stay%20Vacation%20Homes%20Rental%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
