DOHA: Qatar Charity’s (QC)Ramadan 2014 campaign is to benefit 1.747 million people, including low-income workers, families, orphans and refugees.
The ‘Noor ul Ataa’ campaign will benefit people in Qatar and other countries, with a focus on the Syrian people, officials said yesterday. Benefits of the campaign will coast QR43.6m, Mohammed bin Ali Al Ghamide, Executive Director of International Development, QC, told a press conference at their headquarters in Doha.
Ibrahim Al Muhannadi, Executive Director of Local Development, Salem Al Azba, Director of Public Relations, Abdul Naser Al Zaher, Director of Donation and Relief Collection were present.
This year’s campaign is characterised by its focus on the Syrian people through the allocation of a special programme for displaced and refugee Syrians which will involve the distribution of food aid during the holy month, including iftar and Eid clothing projects.
The campaign encourages philanthropists to donate to QC development and relief projects in and outside Qatar, including relief for the Syrian people, sponsorship of orphans and needy families, educational, income-generating, water and food projects and initiatives to combat poverty. Cost of this year’s campaign has increased by QR8.6m from last year, with QR16m for projects inside Qatar — up QR4m from last year.
Additional QR3m has been spent on external projects totalling QR27m compared to QR24m last year and expected to benefit 1.353 million people, an increase of around 50,000 beneficiaries.
Iftar tables aim at benefiting 150,000 fasting people. The tables will be spread across various regions of Qatar, with a focus on single workers, limited-income people and passers-by.
‘Fieh el Afiya’ aims at providing iftar for families with limited income via a contract with productive families which supply meals at a reasonable fee and then deliver them to needy families.
Parcels containing essential foodstuff will be distributed to 1,500 families in different neighbourhoods via coupons gifted by QC at commercial complexes to low-income families at the beginning of the holy month.
Snacks prepared by families will be distributed to motorists not able to reach their homes before iftar. The Supporting Community Iftar Tables Project will provide support for Arab and Muslim communities in Qatar.
Water bottles will be distributed in 32 mosques during the Taraweeh prayers throughout Ramadan. Iftar food for Industrial Zone workers will be distributed at various locations.
‘Take Your Adornment - Khudhu zinatakum’ aimed at providing workers and people with low-income with appropriate clothes, and comes within the framework of community development programmes aimed at promoting cultural values in the community to improve social cohesion.
‘Asset Committee Aid’ will provide financial aid for families with limited income in Qatar.
The campaign also includes Baraha, a community programme, a tent for ‘Will You Not Then See’ — an educational programme, My Prayers Programme, Sheikh Nasser Bin Khaled Competition and ‘Taraweeh’ Broadcast Programme.
Ramadan projects outside Qatar are valued at around QR27m and expected to benefit around 1,352,750 people.
They include Iftar tables in 34 countries and distribution of food baskets to the poorest in 17, in addition to distribution of Zakat Al Fitr in 34 countries and implementation of special projects for refugee and displaced Syrians in Syria and neighbouring countries.
QC has increased the budget of its external Ramadan campaign which this year is estimated at QR3m, higher than last year, and will result in increased numbers of beneficiaries.
The increase is reflected in some projects such as Iftar projects at a cost of over QR12m compared to QR10m last year.
QC seeks to expand the area of beneficiaries outside Qatar this year through food aid, which will cover 17 countries compared to last year when only Syria and Yemen benefited. QC Ramadan projects will benefit the poor in 34 countries in three continents via its overseas offices, or through partners. Displaced Syrians will be a top priority as well as communities and countries with special circumstances in terms of poverty, natural disasters or violence, such as Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, Niger, Pakistan and Somalia. The Peninsula
