Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) has provided aid to multifarious projects in the Gaza Strip.
Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) has provided humanitarian aid worth about QR38m to people in the besieged Gaza Strip during the past three years.
The money was given by citizens and expatriates in Qatar as donations to rescue Palestinians fighting for survival due to the economic blockade by Israel.
More than 400,000 people benefitted from the RAF largesse. Many projects were implemented to meet the urgent and basic needs of the beneficiaries. The projects include foods, clothes, shelters, treatments and education. Maintenance of damaged homes and building new houses were also part of the project. The poor families were given money to pay their home rents when they were unable to do so. Income generation projects were also launched to make poor families productive. Projects for sponsoring and caring for orphans and widows were also implemented.
Rehabilitation projects
RAF spent about QR13m on building new houses, maintaining damaged one and paying home rents for homeless Palestinian families in Gaza. They were living in old tents that could hardly protect them from scorching heat in summer and biting cold in winter.
The projects also helped decreasing numbers of the families living in shelters. They were forced to shelter there after demolition of their homes. The permanent home also reduced risk of disease breakouts.
The new homes provided beneficiary families with other needs like proper schools that were not available in shelters.
Cash support
RAF provided QR7m in cash to the poor in Gaza to meet their urgent needs. The beneficiaries were college students, widows, orphans and families left without breadwinners. The project had positive impact on the development of education sector. It helped meet the necessary and urgent requirements especially those related to providing education to the orphans.
Medical projects
More than QR4.2m was spent on medical projects to improve the deteriorating health conditions of the people in Gaza. Patients with chronic diseases were provided medicines in bulk. The hospitals operating in Gaza were supplied medical equipment and power generators to cope with power outage. People with disabilities were given wheelchairs. Patients, especially those suffering from fatal diseases like cancer, were provided financial support to pay medical bills.
Food supply
A large number of food baskets at a cost of QR7.62m were distributed to the families fighting for survival due to financial reasons. They were having a tough time earning livelihood due to financial blockade. The unemployment rate in Gaza Strip jumped to 40 percent.
Food baskets were given to most deserving families. The beneficiaries were selected through a field survey conducted by RAF in collaboration with its local partners in Gaza to assess the needs of the families.
Gaza Strip is on the top of the list of RAF for seasonal projects like mass Iftar during holy month of Ramadan, distribution of the meat of sacrificial animals, food baskets in Ramadan and Eid clothes among others. These projects cost QR2m in Gaza.
RAF distributed meat of sacrificial animals worth QR1.34m to families in Gaza in a bid to bring about smiles on their faces during festivities. Another purpose is to send them a message that they are not alone in their tough times. The people in Qatar are always with them for support.
During war, RAF dispatched three ships carrying humanitarian aid materials including urgent medical supplies to Gaza. RAF’s humanitarian project in Gaza is a support from their brothers in Qatar. It strengthened further the relation between Palestinians and Qataris.
Income generation projects
RAF has been planning for a long time to improve the economic conditions of Gazans. Projects for the establishment of small businesses were implemented at a cost of QR1m. The project aimed at creating job opportunities to youths to make them independents. They were provided technical support and field survey to set up small businesses like poultry farms, animal breading farms and other agricultural projects. They were also financed to open tailoring shops and carpentries among others.
Miscellaneous ongoing efforts
RAF has been working on various projects to meet the requirements of Gazans whether related to relief, daily necessities and rebuilding of Gaza Strip. Other projects like infrastructure development and income generation are being also implemented.
RAF will do its best to keep supporting people in Gaza on humanitarian grounds to improve their social, economical and living conditions. The move aims at creating a culture of love, peace and solidarity that is the goal of RAF “mercy on human being is a noble deed”.
