The COP27 UN climate summit began on Monday in the Red Sea town of Sharm el-Sheikh, in the hope of averting the worst impacts of climate change. World leaders, policymakers and delegates from nearly 200 countries have gathered to discuss the future of the planet.

Food resources for the African continent are set to be a key point of discussions. To unpack the importance of what extra resources could mean for Africa, we’re joined by the new head of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development, Alvaro Lario.

The World Health Organization said on Thursday it saw no evidence of coronavirus being spread by food or packaging and urged people not to be afraid of the virus entering the food chain.

Two cities in China said they had found traces of the coronavirus in imported frozen chicken wings from Brazil and on outer packaging of frozen Ecuadorian shrimp, raising fears that contaminated food shipments might cause a new outbreak.

“People should not fear food, or food packaging or processing or delivery of food,” WHO head of emergencies programme Mike Ryan told a briefing in Geneva. “There is no evidence that food or the food chain is participating in transmission of this virus. And people should feel comfortable and safe.”

WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said China had tested hundreds of thousands of packages and “found very, very few, less than 10” proving positive for the virus.

Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry said in a statement that it was seeking clarification on the Chinese findings. Ecuador’s production minister, Ivan Ontaneda, told Reuters that the country maintains strict protocols and cannot be held responsible for what happens to goods after they leave the country.

More than 20.69 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and almost 750,000​ have died, according to a Reuters tally.

The WHO urged countries now that are striking bilateral deals for vaccines not to abandon multilateral efforts, since vaccinating pockets will still leave the world vulnerable.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, a move Moscow likened to its success in the Cold War-era space race.

Moscow’s decision to grant approval before then has raised concerns among some experts. Only about 10% of clinical trials are successful and some scientists fear Moscow may be putting national prestige before safety.

The WHO does not have enough information to make a judgment on the expanded use of the Russian vaccine, said Bruce Aylward, WHO senior adviser.

“The vast majority of the population of the world is susceptible to this disease,” he told the briefing. “The second thing that we are seeing is the stringency of the application of control measures is dropping. People are coming closer together…masks aren’t being used the way that they should etc.

“So any levelling of the disease that we are looking at is just lulling you into a sense of false security … because it has lots of space to still cause trouble,” Aylward added.

Shoeb Siddiqi

The Humanitarian efforts of these NGOs and individuals during this testing time have been lauded by their City Police and Municipal Departments respectively.

The ongoing lockdown, in the wake of COVID—19 pandemic, has affected the lives of thousands of communities across India, such as migrant laborers, daily wage workers, rag pickers, underprivileged and senior citizens, etc.

While Indian Media is pre-occupied with campaigns against Muslims for the spread of COVID—19, it completely ignores the fact that several Muslim individuals and organizations are at the forefront of providing essentials to the needy during the lockdown.

From Kashmir to Karnataka, and Hyderabad to Lucknow, these individuals and organizations are coming up with initiatives to aid the helpless irrespective of the religion.

The Milli Chronicle has tried reaching out to some of them, following is the list of some of the NGOs, mosques, individuals and other institutions working towards this cause across India.

Mumbai

Jama Masjid Ahle Hadees of Sakina area offers food to around 800 laborers who have lost their source of livelihood. Apart from the cooked meal, the mosque is also providing ration to people in the nearby locality. Maulana Atif Sanabili said: “like COVID—19, hunger is also a serious disorder and affects everyone irrespective of religion. Our motto is ‘Koi Bhuka Na soye’”.

Nikhat Vaid of Idafah Investment is leading the operations to feed cooked meals, she has fed almost 97,000 meals, and her target is to reach out to 500,000 dwellers in the Mumbai slums. She is being helped by Salman Khan’s Being Human Foundation and 10 different NGOs.

Zeeshan Siddique, a Congress MLA, distributes groceries to around 5000 families of daily wage workers, waste pickers, etc., with 26 tonnes of ration per day, he is also sanitizing and disinfecting areas in Mumbai.

Bangalore

Zain Ataullah of iGET provides around 800 meals and 500 ration kits among the widows, physically handicapped, blind, hearing impaired and underprivileged,

Mohsin Kamal of iCARE Foundation provides relief package to orphans, widows, single mothers and women laborers. iCARE also raises funds for the treatment of poor families at hospitals.

Mercy Mission, a conglomerate of 17 NGOs has delivered around 9,000 food packets and 900 ration kits, the beneficiaries of their work are the migrant workers from states like Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, and Odhisa.

Hyderabad

Masjid E Tawheed, a Mosque located in Tolichowki area has provided 1500+ rations kits and feeds around 300 people daily.

Masjid Raheem O Sughra of Jamiat Ahle Hadees, AC guards chapter provides ration consisting of essentials to daily wage workers like electricians, plumbers, etc.

Mohammed Murtuza of Karwan-e-Khair NGO famously known as Power of 100, distributes food packets to needy patients at Government hospitals, and around 200 families in and around Hyderabad.

Akbaruddin Owaisi, the MLA of AIMIM party has distributed ration to over 20,000 families in the old city area of Hyderabad.

Mrs. Khaleda Parveen of Amoomat Society is providing cooked meals daily for 150-200 migrants without a kitchen and around 20-30 ration kits per day for bachelors and families.

Muhammed Amjad Ali, an individual working in Saudi Arabia has mobilized ration and delivered it to Handicap and auto drivers with the help of his friends in India in the old city area.

Mrs. Hajera Begum has waived off the rent of her 30 tenants that amounts to around Rs 600,000 setting an example for others.

Tamil Nadu

Jamiat Ahle Hadees in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry provides ration and meals to needy. 5000 ration kits have been distributed and 500 meals are served to date.

Hosur, a small town in Tamil Nadu has seen Jamiat Ahle Hadees-led social welfare trust, which distributes ration among 250 families per day.

Kashmir

Helping Hands for Humanity in Srinagar distributes ration to around 100 families per day, despite the lockdown and curfew in Kashmir since the abrogation of article 370.

Umar Bin Ahmed who leads Helping Hands for Humanity also runs a clothing brand has manufactured and donated PPE suits to hospitals in Kashmir, his target is to donate around 6000 PPE suits.

Uttar Pradesh

Rational Thinkers Society provides ration kits to around 250 families in Lucknow City.

Muwahhid Foundation in Barabanki City helps widows and daily wage workers with around 130 ration kits.

Taqdirul Insan Trust in Ghaziabad provides ration to needy and those without access to Govt. Schemes, so far they have managed to help 200 families not just with groceries but also with monetary help.

Delhi

Jamia Milia Islamia Students teamed up with other NGOs cover the parts of Delhi and villages in Bihar in distributing ration packages among the needy.

Bihar

Khula Aasman, an NGO in Bihar actively distributes food in different parts of the state like Chakia, Aarrah, Patna, and Madhubani, they have distributed ration packages to around 550 families of street dwellers, widows and those who are not beneficiaries of Govt Schemes.

While NGOs are always ahead in charity work, this time Muslim women, Muslim politicians and mosques are also leading the way in these activities, each of these organizations and individuals is unique in their cause, project, and initiatives.

The Humanitarian efforts of these NGOs and individuals during this testing time have been lauded by their City Police and Municipal Departments respectively.

Even the Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has come to rescue of such organizations by enabling them to procure wheat and rice at lower prices from Food Corporation of India, without the need to be registered with them.