On Wednesday this week, following the launch of food banking initiative in January, the first branch of the UAE food bank was opened in Al Quoz area of Dubai with strong partnership with and support from 70 charitable organizations, 96 hotels and 240 food shops. .
This was officially launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Prime Minister and Dubai’s ruler as part of the 2017 UAE’s Year of Giving initiative. The aim of this initiave is to distribute food to those desperately in need and likewise avoid unnecessary waste most especially by those with excess. The supply of the food package goes within and beyond the boundaries of UAE as the ultimate goal is to achieve zero food waste in UAE.
“The site is equipped with all the necessary technical and logistical amenities to provide support and support the launch of the food bank’s operations,” said the founder of the charitable organization, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum
Dubai Municipality has therefore been charged with the responsibility of regulating the process of collecting, packing, storing and distributing meals, in order to ensure food safety and freshness. In addition to this, the Municipality has also been tasked create operational guidelines and channel of collection and distribution. It is expected to include supervisors who will ensure that regulations are adhered to, stakeholders who will donate the food, and the charitable organisations, which will manage distribution.
“The food bank will give many people and institutions the opportunity to volunteer and actively participate in the process of giving food at all stages – from collecting, to storing, to packaging and then distributing the food to those in need. We will closely monitor all its operations [of the first food bank], making amendments where necessary, and providing a benchmark for the many other branches that we hope to see opened across the UAE and surrounding countries,” said Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality and the deputy chairman of the Food Bank.
