
Sharjah charity to deliver fresh bread to 20,000 in Gaza as part of emergency aid project
A charity organisation in Sharjah has launched a scheme to deliver fresh bread to 20,000 people in Gaza each day.
A Dh750,000 monthly budget has been allocated to the project being helmed by Sharjah Charity International, as part of an emergency response to the worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave.
This follows an agreement between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar to enable the entry of aid into Gaza.
The bakeries will run as part of an initiative under the UAE's broader Gallant Knight 3 campaign launched by President Sheikh Mohamed to support Gaza's civilians.
'This project is designed to help some of the most vulnerable groups especially children, the elderly, and displaced families who are living in extremely difficult conditions due to the ongoing crisis,' said Abdullah Sultan bin Khadim, executive director of Sharjah Charity International.
'Operating the bakeries will provide people with bread, a daily essential, and builds on our earlier efforts, including digging 12 wells and running community kitchens to supply food to those affected.
'The bakery project alone is expected to supply bread to 20,000 people every day, making it one of the largest food aid initiatives currently serving the Gaza Strip, where there is a severe shortage of supplies and limited bakery capacity.'
He said the project would ensure aid reaches those most in need while maintaining their dignity and addressing their essential needs. He urged the public in the UAE to support the bakery programme by donating.
How to help
'We have made the donation process easy and secure. People can contribute via Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, SMS, or through our official website, he said. 'Cash donations are also accepted at the charity's offices, mosques, and retail locations.
'Every contribution, no matter how small, can change the life of a family that has lost everything. A quick response from donors allows us to expand the reach of support to as many people as possible in the coming days.
'We see it as our responsibility to continue supporting the people of Gaza, and we remain committed to sustainable humanitarian work that upholds human dignity and helps communities stay resilient in the face of hardship.'
The charity recently launched a fundraising campaign to collect Dh2.6 million for life-sustaining projects in Gaza. Of this, Dh1.2 million will go toward digging 12 new wells for clean water which is expected to benefit more than 312,000 people while Dh1.4 million will help fund the kitchens. The projects together aim to serve more than 45,000 people daily.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The National
an hour ago
- The National
Israel says it is holding 2,790 detainees from Gaza
Israel is holding 2,790 Gazans as detainees on Israeli territory, 660 of them in military detention camps, which have been the sites of severe abuse throughout the Gaza war, according to data revealed by the state following a court petition from the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel. The NGO also identified 144 missing detainees in the numbers, whose statuses are unknown. Tal Steiner, the group's executive director, called on the state to explain what has happened to the missing people and to 'immediately change the legislation that violates the fundamental rights of detainees'. Israel's military has undertaken mass detentions in the strip since the war began in October 2023. Injustice, torture and mistreatment of detainees are cited in South Africa's continuing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. 'The disturbing reports of torture in detention facilities and harsh living conditions that have even led to the deaths of many detainees require immediate investigation and fundamental change in the treatment of detainees,' Ms Steiner added. The state's response confirmed that the 'Anatot' detention facility, where there were numerous accounts of abuse and inhumane conditions, had been closed. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, citing accounts collected by HaMoked Centre for Defence of the Individual, lists examples including people being held in 'pens' of 50 people and shackled all day, blindfolded and forbidden to speak. The data indicates a significant decrease in the number of detentions since December 2024, but the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) said the state continues to oppose ending a detention law that 'allows prolonged detention without trial and without effective judicial oversight'. The law in question is Israel's 'Unlawful Combatants Law', which underwent controversial amendments relating to legal timelines for detainees. PCATI said those changes are a 'severe violation of rights to freedom, life, bodily integrity and due process, in a manner incompatible with the values of the State of Israel as a democratic state'.


Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Study abroad criteria for UAE students: All you need to know
The UAE's Council for Education, Human Resources, and Community Development has approved a set of standards and regulations governing the enrollment of Emirati students in higher education institutions abroad. These standards require students to enrol in internationally recognised universities and academic programmes, ensuring the quality of academic qualifications and their alignment with the needs of the national labour market and future development directions. For students currently pursuing their studies abroad, they can adjust their status in accordance with the newly adopted criteria. To ensure fairness and account for special cases, especially students studying abroad, Emirati students continuing their education overseas, whether self-funded or sponsored, will have a one-year grace period from the date this decision takes effect to adjust their academic status. This was announced during a virtual media briefing on Wednesday. New adjustments Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Mohamed Ebrahim AlMualla, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, clarified that the decision applies to all citizens wishing to study abroad or those already on scholarships to pursue education outside the UAE. This is regardless of whether they are sponsored by official entities, self-funded, or nominated by their employers. The decision applies to all levels of higher education, from diploma to PhD, and encompasses professional qualifications equivalent to these academic degrees. AlMualla explained, 'There are two categories of students currently studying abroad. The first category includes those who meet the criteria, and they are only required to ensure that their current university and major fall within the approved standards.' 'As for the second category, which does not meet the criteria, they have two options: the first is to adjust their academic path by switching to another major within the same university — if that major is classified or meets the criteria — or to transfer to another university that does meet the criteria.' He confirmed that the Ministry will provide the necessary support to students in the process of adjusting their status, by guiding them to universities that meet the standards and assisting them through embassies and cultural attachés abroad, enabling them to make the required changes. AlMualla also added that students may apply for an exemption through the Ministry's website. The exemption request will be referred to the Exemptions Committee, chaired by the Council for Education, Human Resources, and Community Development, which will review the applications and decide whether to grant the exemption or request that the student adjust their academic situation. He stated, 'Today, we are announcing a decision that reflects the UAE's commitment to regulating the education of its citizens abroad to ensure they receive high-quality education in line with the best global standards. Studying abroad is an investment by the student, the sponsoring entity, and the employer if the student is employed. It is also an investment of the student's own time and effort. Therefore, this investment must be properly placed, and this is what the decision seeks to ensure.' He explained that the decision is based on rigorous global university rankings. Students are required to enroll in the top 50 universities for their major, or among the top 100 universities in countries with high student populations, such as the United States and Australia, and up to the top 300 universities in non-English-speaking countries — an approach aimed at promoting both academic and cultural diversity. He elaborated, 'We rely on two primary rankings: the overall university ranking and the specific major ranking. Students must be enrolled in a university ranked within the top 100, 200, or 300, depending on the country, and in a major that falls within the approved rankings. As for exemptions, they are received through the Ministry and forwarded to the committee chaired by the Education Council." The Council emphasised the importance of adhering to the specified standards to avoid non-recognition of degrees obtained from abroad. Failure to meet the criteria may affect the use of such qualifications for employment, promotion, study leave, exam leave, thesis defense, or qualification-based benefits within the federal government sector in the UAE. Also, the Ministry's website offers services related to the recognition of higher education qualifications, providing a set of digital tools to help users make informed decisions. These tools include a search service for approved study programmes, a list of eligible universities and majors, and an online platform for submitting exemption requests. These services are available to all students, parents, and sponsoring institutions.


The National
an hour ago
- The National
Cosmin Olaroiu calls on UAE players to make World Cup dreams come true
Cosmin Olaroiu says the UAE national team want to deliver qualification for the World Cup as a gift for 'a nation that deserves it'. Fourteen years after he first arrived in the club game as coach of Al Ain, the Romanian has taken charge of the national side with the ultimate prize at stake. They face Uzbekistan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening knowing direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup is possible, even if it is hanging by a thread. If the home team can beat the second-placed Uzbeks at Al Nahyan Stadium, they will move to within a point of them in the group. They would then need to better whatever result the Uzbeks achieve against Qatar on Tuesday in their own game in Kyrgyzstan to book their ticket to the United States, Canada and Mexico. Coincidentally, Tuesday is also Olaroiu's birthday. Even though he has been in situ in his new role for little more than a week, optimism has been flooding through the game here since he landed the role. His appointment has infused people with the belief qualification can be achieved without resorting to a repechage play-off in October. It is the 'Olaroiu effect' in motion, but the man himself says only a group effort will bring about success. 'It's not about me,' Olaroiu said. 'I am a small part of this team. I am here to help, and give my support and experience to transfer to the players to reach their dream. 'It is about this group of players. They have the biggest opportunity at this moment that most of them will have in their careers: to participate in a World Cup. 'They should understand this and be very motivated to reach their dream, and the dream of a nation that deserves to get this. For us, this is a big responsibility.' Given how much rests on the game against the Uzbeks, Olaroiu has a tricky balance to strike. He acknowledged his coaching staff have had to rein back the players at points over the past week, so enthusiastic have they been. Even that, though, he regards as positive. 'Sometimes they overload themselves and we have to tell them to calm down a little bit, and this is a good sign that they want it,' Olaroiu said. 'This is the way we should approach the game.' Olaroiu accepts the challenge facing his side is a sizeable one against an Uzbek side which he terms 'one of the biggest teams in Asia'. But he enjoys it that way, he said. 'In my career I have been involved in games against lots of teams who are bigger than us,' the UAE coach said. 'Always, we have one chance, and I will fight for the chance. We have to do this, and tomorrow is our first chance to do this.' If Olaroiu is charged with readying the players for the challenge ahead, then he has an able captain on the field to help carry out the mission. Khalid Essa, the goalkeeper, is almost as adept at delivering a message as his new coach. The Al Ain No 1 said he feels privileged to finally work with Olaroiu. 'I have spent 15 years representing the clubs I have played for and the national team,' Essa said. 'Through these years, I can say I am very proud and lucky that, before I retire, I have played under the guidance of this coach. 'He is a coach who can understand the players inside and outside the pitch. He can extract the maximum from the players. He has leadership characteristics, and knows the players who are here more than any other coach.' Essa, too, emphasised the fact success will only come via a communal effort. 'We are much closer to the World Cup than we have ever been, and we believe in this moment,' Essa said. 'It will be a joint effort between the players, the management, the federation, the fans, and the entire nation. 'If we continue in this way, we can achieve big things. Until this point we have been performing well, but luck wasn't on our side, fate wasn't on our side. 'We don't know what the result will be tomorrow, but we will put in all our efforts, and we are expecting a positive atmosphere. We are seeing that already. 'We are all sailing the same ship here. We all want to qualify for the World Cup. The entire country. To do that, for the next five days we all need to share in the joint effort.'