ERC Gears Up for Ahlan Ramadan

Upon the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, more than one million people, including members of vulnerable families and workers, will benefit from the ERC’s Ramadan programmes this year, such as foodstuff (Ramadan Ration), Zakat al-Fitr and Eid clothing.

During a remote press conference, the ERC launched its 2020 Ramadan campaign, under the slogan, “From your homes, you light your skies,” attended by the campaign’s sponsors.

During the press conference, the ERC stressed that this year’s Ramadan programmes will be different and food parcels will be delivered to beneficiaries instead of being distributed in Ramadan tents, in adherence to social distancing rules.

Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, ERC Secretary-General, stated that the ERC’s programmes and activities inside the country are witnessing significant growth, due to the directives of the UAE’s leadership and the monitoring of Sheikh Hamdan.

He added that Sheikh Hamdan has attracted the participation of philanthropists and donors in the ERC’s national programmes while expressing the ERC’s appreciation for the campaign’s sponsors, which are the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, ADIB, and Etisalat.

Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, ERC Deputy Secretary-General for Local Affairs, said, “We are preparing to start the best month of the year by strengthening the spirit of human solidarity and offering the opportunity to participate in our programmes around the country, which will benefit hundreds of thousands.”

Fujairah Charity

The Fujairah Charity Association has allocated AED49.35 million for this year’s Ramadan projects, an increase of 16 percent compared to last year.

Saeed bin Mohammed Al Raqbani, Chairman of the Association’s Board of Directors, told a press conference that the Association has completed its preparations with a wide range of charitable programmes and projects, aimed at achieving happiness for the largest possible number of families in need, including citizens and residents.

Al Raqbani pointed out that the society spent AED42 million last year during the Holy Month of Ramadan, which had benefitted 371,648 individuals, through launching projects related to zakat money, fasting-breaking, and other charitable causes. He hoped that this year 431,111 individuals will benefit from the Ramadan projects, with an estimated budget of AED49.3 million targeting an increase of 16 percent compared to last year.

For the fifth year in a row, the association will involve 38 families in the fasting-breaking project, a 15 percent increase in the number of families participating in the project compared to last year, at 31 breakfast sites, and an average of 4,100 meals per day distributed to those fasting, with a total of 123,000 breakfast meals during the month, he added.

The association also provides foodstuffs to deserving families as part of the Ramadan Food Assistance project. Some 3,000 underprivileged families from across Fujairah are benefiting from the project this year.

Price Hike

Merchants in Dubai will face a penalty on price hikes, the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection, CCCP, sector in Dubai Economy, has warned.

“If the complaint is found to be valid, the merchant is asked to go back to the original price or risk a penalty for not co-operating,” Ahmed Al Zaabi, Director of the Consumer Protection in Dubai Economy, said, as Dubai Economy announced it has received 784 complaints relating to prices within two weeks of launching its awareness campaign on the importance of raising consumer complaints, and announcing a new portal – Price.ded.ae – for consumers to submit complaints relating to price increases.

Al Zaabi said that the CCCP team verifies the accuracy of complaints related to price hikes by looking at all available evidences and comparing existing bills with previous ones. The team may also resort to field and electronic inspection of the merchant’s price list and other methods.

“We are keen to provide different channels that consumers of all ages and segments can use to protect their rights. We received 71 percent of complaints related to price increases through the price.ded.ae portal during the last two weeks while 29 percent came through the Dubai Consumer application,” Al Zaabi added.

Consumers can submit complaints related to price hikes through the Dubai Consumer app available on the Apple, Google, and Huawei stores, the price.ded.ae website, or by calling 600 54 5555.

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