Marriott Hotels in Dubai join Red Crescent and WFP to help feed hungry children

Five Marriott hotels across Dubai will call on guests and visitors to voluntarily add Dhs5 (about $1.40) to their room or restaurant bills, enough to feed a child in school for a week.

The money will be donated to the UAE Red Crescent Authority and the UN World Food Programme (WFP), allowing WFP to provide school meals to many of the 59 million children around the world who attend school hungry every day.

"Giving a child a meal is one of the best things you can do at this time of high food prices," said Mario Fetz, WFP's director of private donor relations, noting that high commodity and fuel prices coupled with an increase in natural disasters threaten to wipe out gains made against hunger in recent years.

"We particularly appreciate this valuable contribution to our school feeding programme and commend Marriott for its commitment to ending hunger," Fetz said.

The five hotels taking part in the 'Spirit to Serve the Hungry' campaign are the JW Marriott Dubai, Renaissance Dubai Hotel, Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Creek, Courtyard by Marriott Green Community and Marriott Executive Apartments Green Community.

They have set a goal of feeding 100,000 of the most vulnerable children in school by the end of the year, through their own generosity and that of their patrons.

Hunger continues to be the greatest threat to health worldwide, killing a child every six seconds. It takes just 25 US cents to feed a child in school.

The UAE Red Crescent Authority works to assist needy communities both within the UAE and around the world.

Its commitment to improving the lives of underprivileged children places it at the forefront of humanitarian efforts to combat global poverty, and has made it a highly valuable partner for WFP and numerous other humanitarian organisations.

WFP is the UN's frontline agency in the fight against global hunger.

Through its Food For Education programme, WFP provides meals to an average 20 million children per year in schools across some 70 countries, encouraging attendance and improving their ability to concentrate and learn.