Children and war-affected Syrian families will benefit from a Dh1.2 million donation that will afford them food for some months. Pitching in to fight world hunger Choithrams the supermarket chain on January 10 donated Dh1272649 to the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) at a ceremony in its Marina store in Dubai. Last year Choithrams joined WFP to fight hunger and malnutrition in the Middle East and West Africa.

Besides the Middle East 2100 children in the region of Atacora in Benin (West Africa) will eat locally cooked school meals every day for an entire year. These meals are said to work as a powerful incentive for parents to send their daughters and sons to school.

The donated amount will fund 3321 month-long food vouchers to families in need and 73026200 school meals to children in the Middle East and West Africa.

A big thank you

Choithrams involved its staff and customers in the 'Zero Hunger' campaign in its supermarkets across Dubai between September and December last year.

Customers were invited to add a donation to their bill at checkout to support WFP's School Meals Programme in the Middle East. They had a chance to donate Dh1 5 20 or 200. Each dirham donated to WFP is sufficient to provide a nutritious meal to a school student in need. In only four months Choithrams customers donated enough to provide 354362 nutritious meals.

In a touching acknowledgement Choithrams thanked all those associated with the campaign including its salespeople especially cashier Sheena Bacho Francisco for helping raise the second highest funds to support the WFP School Meal programme.

Among its customers Rajeev Mahajan and wife Poornima Mahajan were thanked for their generous consistent donations over the four-month period. Rajeev a resident of Greens told Khaleej Times that once or twice a week when he would go to the Choithrams near their place and would contribute a small amount.

The supermarket chain first contributed Dh918287 and raised Dh354362 from customers across all its supermarkets in Dubai.

Chairman of Choithrams LT Pagarani said: "Hunger is everyone's business because it robs the potential of vulnerable children and communities. We are proud to partner with the WFP and encourage everyone to join us in the fight against malnutrition and help achieve a world with zero hunger."

Abdallah Al Wardat Director WFP Office UAE said: "We have all gathered here today because we share a belief: that access to food is vital to full futures and that a world with zero hunger is indeed possible. A world where all children women and men get the food they need to fulfill their potential and live happily and peacefully."

Thanks to Choithrams the 10 schools supported by this WFP project will be also be equipped with gardens and agricultural tools water abduction will be improved wherever needed and children will be taught about hand washing and nutrition.