Emirates Red Crescent Distributes Iftar Meals In Syria As Part Of Ramadan Initiatives

KEY POINTS

ERC distributed 5,000 Ramadan food baskets to Syrians affected by the earthquakes
The ERC teams also prepared 10,000 clothes packages for the victims
The UAE's Ramadan initiatives will focus on distributing food aid to Syrians throughout the Holy Month

As Muslims across the world observe the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has begun distributing Iftar meals to the earthquake-stricken families in Syria.

The distribution was part of its "The Gallant Knight 2" Operation, which was launched to provide humanitarian aid to families affected by the deadly earthquakes that had hit Syria and Turkey in February and left at least 50,000 people dead.

ERC field teams partnered with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent on the first day of Ramadan to allocate 5,000 food baskets and 75,000 iftar meals to about 160,000 families in Syria, news agency WAM reported. The teams also organized Ramadan tents in five key areas and distributed 10,000 Eid clothes packages to the people.

Valued at Dh 3,168,365, the aid also included a Zakat Al Fitr program, a charitable donation of food given to needy Muslims before the Eid prayer. According to ERC Secretary General Hamoud Al Junaibi, the initiative is just the beginning of the UAE's ambitious plans for Syria as the country is still looking to expand its Ramadan programs this year.

Al Junaibi said the ERC will particularly enhance its Eid clothing initiative, iftar programs and Zakat Al Fitr by targeting the areas most affected by the earthquake and families, who are currently living in camps.

The ERC chief also revealed that their teams in Syria had already implemented the distribution of food aid before Ramadan to help Muslims in the country keep up with their religious practices during the Holy Month despite their difficult situations, the National News reported. He also emphasized the eagerness of the ERC to increase the number of beneficiaries of their programs.

Since the earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, the ERC has been working on the ground to distribute food parcels, set up hospitals, provide medicines and medical supplies, and provide temporary shelters for the victims. The group has also provided support to the youth by distributing school bags and stationery kits to pupils in the most affected regions.

Since last month, the UAE government has delivered 7,453 tons of aid to Turkey and Syria.