DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has launched a Ramadan humanitarian campaign titled “Had Al Hayat” (Edge of Life) aimed at saving the lives of five million children suffering from severe hunger and malnutrition, Dubai’s ruler announced.

The initiative was unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who said the campaign would focus on children under the age of five facing life-threatening food insecurity.

“Had Al Hayat”, which translates as “the edge of life”, refers to children who have reached a critical stage between life and death due to acute hunger and malnutrition, Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement.

The campaign will be carried out in cooperation with a number of international organisations and aims to mobilise at least AED1 billion dirhams ($272 million) in funding from local and global donors.

The UAE traditionally launches major charitable initiatives during the holy month of Ramadan, with this year’s effort centred on tackling extreme child hunger worldwide.

President Donald Trump will announce a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza and detail plans for a UN-authorised stabilisation force for the Palestinian enclave at the first formal meeting of his Board of Peace next week, two senior US officials said on Thursday.

Delegations from at least 20 countries, including many heads of state, are expected to attend the meeting in Washington, DC, which Trump will chair on February 19, the officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The details on Trump’s plans for the first meeting of his Board of Peace for Gaza have not been previously reported.

Trump signed documents in Davos, Switzerland, on January 23 establishing the Board of Peace.

The board’s creation was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s Gaza plan.

While regional Middle East powers, including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as major emerging nations such as Indonesia, have joined the board, global powers and traditional Western US allies have been more cautious.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday during his visit to Washington that Israel has joined the board.

Trump has stirred concerns that the Board of Peace might try to resolve other conflicts around the world and compete with the United Nations.

The US officials said the meeting next week will focus solely on Gaza.

They said a central part of the meeting will be Trump’s announcement of a multi-billion-dollar fund for Gaza, which will include monetary contributions from participating board members.

One official called the offers “generous” and said that the United States had not made any explicit requests for donations.

“People have come to us offering,” the official said. “The president will make announcements vis-à-vis the money raised.”

STABILIZATION FORCE

Deployment of the International Stabilisation Force is a key part of the next phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, announced in September.

Under the first phase, a fragile ceasefire in the two-year-old war began on October 10, and Hamas has released hostages while Israel has freed detained Palestinians.

Trump will announce that several countries plan to provide several thousand troops to the stabilisation force that is expected to deploy in Gaza in the months ahead, the officials said.

A primary concern for now is disarming Hamas fighters who have been reluctant to give up their weapons.

Under Trump’s Gaza plan, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty.

Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries, under the plan.

The Board of Peace meetings will also include detailed reports on the work of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which was established to take over the day-to-day civil administration of the Gaza Strip from Hamas.

The committee announced its members and held its first meeting in January.

The Bangladesh National Party (BNP) won a decisive two-thirds majority on Friday in general elections, a result expected to bring stability to the nation after months of tumult following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a Gen Z-led uprising.

The party, led by Tarique Rahman, will return to power after 20 years. Rahman, the son of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, is widely expected to be sworn in as prime minister.

Here are some of the key promises made by the BNP in its election manifesto, which has the motto ‘Bangladesh before all’:

Reforms

To implement all points of the July Charter that seek to create new constitutional bodies, introduce a bicameral parliament, along with broader changes in line with political parties’ commitment.

Trade

To undertake initiatives to restart closed industries and diversify the export sector.

To undertake measures so that legally operating foreign businesses can repatriate their stipulated profits to their home countries within 30 days.

Employment

To create nearly 1 million new jobs in the information and communication technology sector.

To ensure fair, price-index-based wages in line with inflation and a review system to be launched every two years.

To develop technical and language skills among the youth and ensure merit-based government recruitment.

Economy

To introduce international payment systems, establish regional e-commerce hubs and boost ‘Make in Bangladesh’.

To launch a ‘Family Card’ for low-income families with monthly provisions to buy essential commodities.

Health

To increase public spending on health to 5% of GDP gradually.

To recruit 100,000 health workers across the country and expand preventive healthcare programmes.

Social

To launch a mid-day meal program for students and a new, skills and values-based education policy for schools.

To build better sports infrastructure and training facilities.

To set up training-based welfare programs for religious leaders of all faiths at places of worship.