Qatari foundation allocates $8.245 million for Ramadan charity projects in Qatar and abroad
A Qatari foundation has allocated QR30millionn ($8.245 million) for its Ramadan charity projects in Qatar and abroad, officials have said.
The Shaikh Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services, popularly known as Raf, said that it was using half of the amount for local charitable activities including the serving of daily Iftar meals in 14 locations throughout Qatar to feed 100,000 low-income workers, including non-Muslims.
“We do not mind non-Muslim expatriates being part of our programme since it is mainly a humanitarian initiative. They are welcome and we will be happy with that,” Ayed Al Qahtani, Raf director general, said. “Raf is co-ordinating with other local charities to avoid erecting two Iftar tents in a single area. We are fully working with the other charities implementing similar projects to ensure that there will be no waste of food, for example,” he said, quoted by Qatari daily Gulf Times.
To enhance ties among expatriate communities, a huge tent would be set up in Al Arabi Sports Club to host daily Iftars for eight different nationalities.
“This is a new initiative which will help us to promote ties with expatriate communities in Qatar as well as bringing them together,” he said.
The organisation will also give cash and other aid to 1,255 local low-income families.
Overseas Iftar charity work will be carried out in 33 countries including Albania, Sudan, Palestine, Ethiopia, Comoros, Eritrea, Chad, Djibouti, Somalia, Rwanda, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
“We would like to maintain a link with Muslims around the world, especially with those who are experiencing difficulties or living in non-Muslim countries,” Al Qahtani said.
Around QR3.5 million ($962,000) in aid will be sent to the Pakistan flood victims.
Last week, Zakat Fund, a local charity, announced a plan to provide Iftar meals to more than 200,000 low-income workers during Ramadan. The Fund allocated QR4 million ($1.1 million) for the Ramadan initiative.
