Preparing and delivering 1.2 million iftar meals to homes in the UAE is no easy task. But Emirates Red Crescent makes it happen with an efficient, tried and true system during the holy month.
The organisation distributes a total of 45,745 food boxes to 218 locations in the country on every evening of Ramadan.
Dining tents are banned this year as a safety measure for Covid-19. But iftar meals are still offered free of charge to thousands of workers, vulnerable families, elderly people and frontline medical workers.
Othman Al Hussaini is one of 20 volunteers who helps with the distribution of iftar boxes at a workers’ camp in Al Mafraq, Abu Dhabi.
“This pandemic has changed the practices, customs and traditions in the UAE,” he said.
“Now everyone receives a meal and eats it in his residence, away from gatherings, for their safety.”
“At this workers’ accommodation, we are distributing around 2,280 iftar meals.
“In addition, thousands of meals are distributed to other camps daily and free of charge.
“The workers feel happy, bonded and loved. We are pleased when we see a smile on their face.”
More than 45,000 meals a day
Pearl Catering and Hospitality Services in Abu Dhabi is one of the 50 kitchens in the country that prepare meals for Emirates Red Crescent’s Ramadan programme.
Staff start preparing the ingredients at 10am, with 15 to 20 people assigned to cooking the food, while another 35 pack the dishes.
About 2,000 meals are prepared using more than 400 kilograms of rice and up to 500kg of chicken or mutton.
“We follow a daily menu rotation with chicken biryani, chicken or mutton gravy, chicken harees and so on.
“There’s also laban, dates, fruit and a bottle of water,” said Simon Youssef, the general manager of the kitchen.
“The meals are prepared while adhering to strict precautions.
“All our employees are vaccinated and go through PCR tests for Covid-19 once a week. We also have regular food inspections.”
At about 3.30pm, the meals are loaded on to trucks and transported to various locations including workers’ cities, humanitarian cities and national screening centres.
About 300 volunteers and 20 staff members of Emirates Red Crescent ensure their smooth distribution.
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
