Doha: Qatar Charity (QC) has launched Iftar meals projects starting from the first day of Ramadan in 40 countries as part of its Ramadan projects outside Qatar, at a cost of QR30m to serve 1,448,426 people.
The projects include mass Iftar banquets and food baskets containing basic supplies for families for entire holy month.
In Burkina Faso, daily Iftar meals are organised in mosques in the capital city Ouagadougou. Iftar meals are also distributed to students of national universities, in major cities, orphanages and elderly care homes. The project aims to provide Iftar meals for 14,000 fasting Muslims in Burkina Faso during the holy month. On the first day of Ramadan, QC distributed 810 meals. Distribution campaigns have grown over time, becoming a tradition.
In Niger, QC organised Iftar banquets for 2,500 fasting Muslims at nine locations during the first three days of Ramadan. Over 100,000 people are expected to benefit from the project.
Moving from Africa to Asia, QC Iftar meal campaigns were launched in Bangladesh in the form of food baskets or ready-made meals. Priority was given to QC social care centres that support over 2,500 orphans, students, religious workers and teachers.
During the first three days of Ramadan, 2,265 food baskets were distributed as follows — 300 in Dhaka city; 320 in Sheikh Hamad Centre; 180 in Qatar Social Care Centre, 480 in Khubaib Ben Adi Orphanage; 80 in Port Said Centre and 900 baskets in Girls Centre. Each contained 43kg of basic food items.
QC also offers cooked meals for fasting Muslims. Each meal contained rice, vegetables, meat, fruits and juice. The meals were distributed at several locations, including QC care centres such as Qatar Social Care Centre, Khubaib Ben Adi Orphanage, Sheikh Hamad Centre, Project No. 15358, and Girls Centre. About 70,000 people are expected to benefit.
In Europe, QC distributed food baskets to poor families and orphans especially in distant areas who cannot receive fresh cooked meals. About 3,000 have benefitted, people with disabilities and students. The target locations cover six districts where many QC projects and campaigns are under way. QC aims to expand Iftar meals distribution to reach more needy in villages and mountains. About 4,300 people, including groups in six districts, are expected to benefit.
QC has carried out the project in Kosovo for 16 years and financially sponsors 1,500 people around the year.
The Peninsula
