A total of 97,000 people have benefitted from 604 tonnes of food collected by the UAE Food Bank, since its inception until mid-November.

The beneficiaries included 80,000 workers, 12,000 families, and 5,000 workers in need. The bank also distributed 170,000 cooked meals.

The figures were revealed during the food bank's Board of Trustees meeting, under the directives of H.H. Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the UAE Food Bank and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Headed by Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, the Board met at the Dubai World Trade Centre on the sidelines of the Dubai International Food Safety Conference.

The meeting covered a number of topics, including the food bank's functions and objectives, achievements since its establishment, and planned initiatives as well as its future strategy.

Lootah highlighted the importance of learning the best practices around the world to develop the bank's business system and operational plans, thus enhancing the role of the bank in the UAE and abroad. He added that the 2018 work plan will focus on coordination with the other emirates to establish UAE Food Bank collection sites.

He went on to say that the focus will be on a range of projects that serve the Bank's objectives, and that it is important to develop initiatives outside the country and assist affected countries. A proposal was also made to organise meetings during the World Government Summit, and to study the possibility of signing twinning agreements with various countries.

The UAE Food Bank was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with the ultimate aim to make Dubai the first city in the region to achieve zero food waste