Thousands of volunteers in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have completed the packing of over 10 million meals for the people of Gaza to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, the Government of Dubai Media Office announced on Sunday.
The supplies will be transferred overland in Egypt and are expected to arrive in Gaza in early January next year, helping meet the needs of displaced Palestinians in the embattled enclave.
"Each box of this can be enough for a family for a certain period of time. What's included here rice, sugar, milk, and all the essentials that are required to keep a family alive and fed for a certain period," said Salam Adel, a volunteer from Jordan.
This operation was initiated and spearheaded by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as part of the Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, an initiative launched by the UAE to support the Palestinian people and meet their urgent needs.
Initially, the project had announced a need for only 2,000 volunteers to help pack the meals, but the call was met with an overwhelming response of over 20,000 people in a single week, according to the media office.
"Today, we've started at 09:00, and we are going to continue until we have achieved the packing of 10 million. Even until 21:00, or 22:00, we are going to continue until we complete the 10 million meals. There will be different batches of volunteers, so every two hours, there is a new batch. So, by the end of the day, we aim to achieve the 10 million," said Mohammed Al Sharif, spokesperson for Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.
"All of us can put some helping hands to the people of Gaza, and we hope for the best that we can make their life better. What's going on, like all of us, we hope that it will help them and give food security for them," said Syed Abdullah, a volunteer from Pakistan.
UAE ready to ship 10 million meals of food aid to Gaza
UAE ready to ship 10 million meals of food aid to Gaza
U.S. stocks finished mixed on Wednesday as global oil futures continued their upward trajectory, overshadowing a highly anticipated inflation report.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.61 percent to 47,417.27. The S and P 500 sank 0.08 percent to 6,775.8. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 0.08 percent to 22,716.14.
Eight of the 11 primary S and P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer staples and real estate leading the laggards by dropping 1.29 percent and 1.12 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and technology led the gainers by adding 2.48 percent and 0.35 percent, respectively.
West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 4.55 percent on Wednesday despite major intervention efforts from the International Energy Agency. The agency announced its members would release 400 million barrels of oil from reserves, marking its largest-ever strategic release, in a direct attempt to mitigate the severe supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict.
On the economic front, the consumer price index (CPI) in the United States increased by a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent for the month, bringing the 12-month inflation rate to 2.4 percent, according to data the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released Wednesday. Both figures matched the prevailing consensus forecast. The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, posted a 0.2 percent monthly gain and a 2.5 percent annual rate, also in line with economists' estimates.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department reported Wednesday that the federal budget deficit surpassed 1 trillion U.S. dollars for the fiscal year through February. However, the data indicated that the figure was sharply lower when compared to the same period a year earlier.
In corporate news, Oracle emerged as a notable bright spot amid the broader market decline, jumping 9.18 percent after the software vendor reported fiscal third-quarter earnings and revenue that exceeded analyst projections. Conversely, Campbell's Company shares slumped 7.05 percent after the food manufacturer reported weaker-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results and subsequently lowered its full-year outlook, citing persistent weakness within its snacks division.
U.S. stocks close mixed amid rising oil prices, in-line inflation data
