Post by : Bianca
Haleem
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the “11.5: Edge of Life” campaign. The global humanitarian initiative aims to rescue 5 million children around the world from hunger and severe malnutrition.
The campaign continues Sheikh Mohammed’s long-standing tradition of launching a major humanitarian initiative every Ramadan, reflecting the UAE’s values of generosity, solidarity, and helping people in need worldwide.
Focus on children in crisis-hit regions
The 11.5: Edge of Life campaign will focus mainly on children living in the world’s most vulnerable communities, especially those affected by conflicts, natural disasters, forced displacement, and poverty.
The campaign highlights the severity of the crisis, noting that five children under the age of five die every minute due to hunger and malnutrition.
Sheikh Mohammed’s message
Sheikh Mohammed said the holy month of Ramadan is the best time to stand in solidarity with humanity and save lives.
He said the campaign aims to rescue five million children from hunger and added that every good act brings both strength and blessings. He also stressed that tens of millions of children suffer from hunger globally and that protecting them must remain a constant goal.
Community participation encouraged
The campaign invites participation from all segments of society across the UAE, including individuals and institutions. It aims to create a broad humanitarian movement that supports children’s right to life, growth, and dignity.
Global partners
The campaign is being launched in partnership with major international organisations, including:
What does “11.5” mean?
The name of the campaign comes from a critical medical indicator called MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference).
For children aged 6 months to 5 years, a MUAC reading of less than 11.5 cm is one of the key criteria used by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to diagnose severe acute malnutrition.
Health experts use MUAC because it is a fast and simple method, especially useful in emergency situations like refugee camps, disaster zones, and conflict areas where weight and height checks are difficult.
A measurement below 11.5 cm signals a dangerous condition where a child’s immunity becomes extremely weak, and the risk of death rises sharply if treatment is delayed.
The campaign turns this medical number into a global call for urgent action, encouraging early screening and fast life-saving intervention.
Key global hunger facts
The campaign underlines the scale of the problem with key figures:
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45% of deaths in children under five are linked to malnutrition
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Around 2.6 million children under five die globally due to malnutrition
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118 million children faced hunger in 2025
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1 in 4 children under five suffer acute malnutrition
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Around 181 million children lack minimum nutrition needed for healthy growth
A continuation of UAE Ramadan humanitarian drives
The campaign is launched under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), which has led several Ramadan drives over the years, including:
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10 Million Meals (2020): Over 15.3 million meals collected
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100 Million Meals (2021): Distributed across 30 countries
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1 Billion Meals (2022): Target achieved in under a month, reached 50 countries
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1 Billion Meals Endowment (2023): Raised AED 1.075 billion
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Mothers’ Endowment (2024): Raised over AED 1.4 billion
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Fathers’ Endowment (2025): Raised over AED 3.7 billion
MBRGI was launched in 2015 as an umbrella organisation that brings together more than 30 initiatives and institutions supported by Sheikh Mohammed.
It works under five major pillars:
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Humanitarian Aid & Relief
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Healthcare & Disease Control
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Spreading Education & Knowledge
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Innovation & Entrepreneurship
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Empowering Communities
Since 2015, MBRGI has spent AED 13.8 billion, benefiting 788 million people in 118 countries.
In 2024 alone, MBRGI spending reached AED 2.2 billion, supporting 149 million people across 118 countries.
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