In an ambitious and compassionate move, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the “11.5: حدّ الحياة” campaign aimed at saving five million children worldwide from hunger. This initiative marks another step in his annual tradition of humanitarian efforts coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, reflecting the enduring values of generosity and solidarity among the Emirati community. The “حدّ الحياة” campaign emphasizes the urgent need to address severe hunger, particularly affecting vulnerable children in conflict and crisis-stricken areas, highlighting a pressing global humanitarian issue.
The Mission of “حدّ الحياة”
The “11.5: حدّ الحياة” campaign extends Sheikh Mohammed’s vision, emphasizing hunger alleviation as a top priority and a core component of various humanitarian initiatives. The campaign focuses primarily on children facing the most severe forms of malnutrition across the globe, particularly in regions afflicted by disasters and conflict. Alarmingly, five children under the age of five are said to die every minute due to hunger-related causes worldwide. This campaign invites participation from all sectors of Emirati society, creating a collective effort to uphold children’s rights to life, growth, and a dignified existence.
A Unified Humanitarian Call
Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of addressing human needs as the proper way to welcome the holy month of Ramadan. “This year, with God’s will, we launch the ‘حدّ الحياة’ campaign to save five million children from hunger in the world,” he stated. The campaign symbolizes the UAE’s commitment to social responsibility and humanitarian values, reinforcing its role as a global model of generosity and positive impact.
The Significance of ‘11.5’
The campaign gets its name from a critical medical measurement: a child’s arm circumference of 11.5 cm, which serves as a benchmark for identifying severe acute malnutrition. If a child’s arm circumference falls below this threshold, it indicates an urgent medical situation that requires immediate intervention. The significance of “حدّ الحياة” lies not merely in its statistical representation but in the humanitarian alarm it raises, urging the necessity for immediate action to prevent further loss of young lives.
Collective Challenges and Solutions
The global hunger crisis is a multifaceted issue, exacerbated by conflicts, economic turmoil, climate change, and forced displacement. By 2025, about 118 million children were reported to face hunger, which underscores the urgency of the “حدّ الحياة” campaign. Designed to offer sustainable solutions to child malnutrition, the campaign aligns with UNICEF and Save the Children and represents a global humanitarian response to the escalating challenges posed by hunger. The campaign seeks to foster a community movement that aids in accomplishing its noble objectives, highlighting the moral imperative of safeguarding children’s lives.
Previous Successful Initiatives
The “11.5: حدّ الحياة” campaign stands on the foundation of previous successful Ramadan initiatives. For example, the “10 Million Meals” campaign in 2020 raised over 15.3 million meals, and “100 Million Meals” in 2021 successfully distributed 220 million meals across 30 countries. These efforts demonstrate the profound impact that collective action can achieve, setting a precedent for the “حدّ الحياة” campaign, which aspires to save lives and improve the futures of millions of children globally.
In light of these initiatives, the “11.5: حدّ الحياة” campaign is not just an appeal for donations; it is a clarion call for humanity to act swiftly and decisively against hunger. It aligns with spiritual teachings and human values emphasizing the importance of feeding the hungry and reinforces the collective responsibility to uplift those most in need. As the campaign progresses, it echoes a vital message: saving a child’s life can begin with a simple yet life-altering action.