QRCS promotes food security for vulnerable families during Ramadan

The foreign representation missions of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) are carrying out Ramadan Iftar projects, under its Ramadan Campaign 1444 AH - 'Humanity First: Give to Charity'.QRCS’s personnel in Lebanon and Bangladesh are preparing Ramadan Iftar parcels, to be distributed among refugees and host communities in the two countries.In the presence of Dr Abdullah bin Salem al-Nuaimi, Qatar's ambassador to Somalia, the QRCS office in Somalia distributed 700 food parcels on Day 1 of the Ramadan Iftar project, for the benefit of 4,900 people in the camps of Banadir region.The project involved distributing 3,000 food parcels in the remote camps of Banadir region, and 2,180 food parcels in the Baidoa camps, Bay region, for the benefit of 5,180 families, at a total cost of $498,815. Each parcel contains 66kg of food staples, such as rice, sugar, vegetable oil, wheat, pasta, dates, tuna, juice, tea and powdered milk.In Iraq, QRCS’s office distributed 1,360 food parcels to 5,800 internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Hassan Sham camp, eastern Mosul, and 401 food parcels to 1,878 Syrian refugees at Basirma camp in Erbil.In co-operation with Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the Barzani Charitable Foundation (BCF), the project is aimed at distributing a total of 2,560 food parcels, each containing 22.5kg of foodstuffs, such as rice, sugar, bulgur, lentils, tomato paste, salt, vegetable oil and dates.Other distributions are in progress in the following countries:1. Gaza: Food vouchers are handed over to poor Palestinian families, in cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP).2. Kyrgyzstan: 612 poor families are receiving food vouchers from the Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan.3. Mongolia: 32.5kg food parcels are being distributed to 400 Muslim families, or 1,458 people, in co-operation with Mongolian Red Cross Society.In Qatar, QRCS has two Ramadan Iftar tents for expatriate workers in Al Wakra and the Industrial Area. Offering fresh meals, juices and dates, the two tents have an overall capacity of 27,000 beneficiaries throughout the holy month of Ramadan.As Ramadan began, QRCS launched its Khairkum Sabeq initiative, sponsored by Ooredoo and supported by LuLu Hypermarket, Spar, Souq Al Baladi, Widam Food, Family Food Centre, Mega Mart, Shoprite, and Al-Khalaf Trading and Marketing (KTM).The initiative is aimed at supporting poor families in Qatar, improving their food security during the holy month of Ramadan, and strengthening the bonds of solidarity and compassion among rich and poor people.To that end, Ramadan baskets are prepared with foodstuffs of various types and weights, including canned food, dairy products, juices, meat and poultry. The boxes are available at the participating supermarkets for customers to purchase by making payments via QRCS’s website or while shopping at any branch of the partner stores. Then, the purchased boxes are presented as gifts for the benefit of those in need. QRCS will co-ordinate with the partners to deliver these Ramadan baskets to the families registered with its social assistance programmes.The food security projects implemented by QRCS under its Ramadan Campaign 1444 AH are divided into two parts: Ramadan-bound and year-round. Local Ramadan-bound projects include Ramadan Iftar (distribution of 2,084 fresh meals per day to a total of 62,500 poor workers and families) and Ramadan Provisions (distribution of 10,000 food parcels among a total of 47,000 people to meet their food needs).Internationally, QRCS is working on Ramadan Iftar projects totaling QR9,912,445 in value, for the benefit of 211,339 people in the following countries: Palestine (Gaza, the West Bank, and Al Quds), Syria, Yemen, Bangladesh, Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kosovo, Albania, Kyrgyzstan, Niger, Comoros and Djibouti.As for the international food projects to be executed later this year, QRCS plans to launch 11 projects at a total cost of QR27,887,365 for the benefit of 746,974 people in eight countries: Syria, Yemen, Palestine (Gaza, the West Bank, and Al Quds), Somalia, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan and Sudan.To donate to QRCS’s food projects, visit its website (www.qrcs.org.qa), download the mobile application QRCS (App Store or Google Play), call the donor service (66666364) or home donation collection (33998898), or send an SMS with "food” to the following numbers: 92552 (QR250), 92869 (QR350), 92092 (QR500), 92556 (QR750), and 92246 (QR1,000). One can also make a bank transfer to the following accounts: QNB (QA21QNBA000000000850020196062), QIB (QA51QISB000000000110575190014), QIIB (QA66QIIB000010026100001002610) and Masraf Al Rayan (QA18MAFR000000000011199980003).