As the month of Ramadan gets underway, several local charities are pledging to spend more than QR25 million (US$6.87 million) on initiatives to help those in need throughout the country.
One of the most important times of year for Muslims, Ramadan is usually meant to herald a period of reflection, patience, virtue and self-control.
Along with fasting during daylight hours, Muslims are also encouraged to devote time and resources to helping those who are less fortunate.
While Qatar is one of the world’s richest countries per capita, it is also home to hundreds of thousands of blue-collar workers on low incomes from countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal and India.
Projects for the underprivileged include setting up iftar tents across Qatar that provide basic food and drink for those breaking their fast; handing out iftar packages to those traveling on planes or around town; and providing financial aid and Eid clothing bundles to low-income Muslim families who live in the country.
Charities also set up drives to deliver iftar packages around the Industrial Area and set up iftaar tents in the district, providing food to many construction workers in need. Medical assistance is also on offer.
The charities do caution that as the tents are sponsored by individuals, they vary in size and capacity. The Peninsula reported disappointment from some workers yesterday as, after lengthy queuing, they were told a tent had run out of food.
Here is some more information on what some of Qatar’s main charities have planned.
Qatar Charity
Qatar Charity (QC) has committed QR16 million ($4.4 million)to domestic projects in the country during Ramadan – part of an overall spend of QR43.6 million ($11.94 million) under its “Noor Al Utaa” campaign.
The budget is up by QR4 million from last year, and QC is using the funds to set up 20 iftar tents around Doha, as well as in Al Khor, Simaisma, Umm Salal, Dhakhira, Shahaniya and Al Wakrah, for low-income workers to break their fast.
The charity is also running a “mobile iftar tent,” distributing food packages to around 12,000 workers in the Industrial area.
Meanwhile, QC is inviting residents to sponsor and deliver food packages to less well-off families here through its “Fieh el Afiya” program. The charity estimates that 7,500 people will benefit from this during Ramadan.
There is also a Ramadan Supply project that ensures some 1,500 families receive coupons for food and other essential supplies during the holy month, while families can also receive financial aid through a separate QR1.5 million initiative run by QC.
And for those who are traveling during iftar, the charity will distribute around 12,000 food packages to drivers as they break their fast at sundown.
Qatar Red Crescent
Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) will spend QR8.7 million ($2.38 million) on 12 social projects across the country, which stand to benefit 111,000 people during and following Ramadan, with the campaign “Your donation is their lifeline.”
QRC plans to commit QR1.35 million to feed a total of 84,000 people – 2,800 a day – in iftar tents and to provide food packages for 320 families during the month.
It will also provide clothes for Eid and financial aid worth more than QR1 million.
Finally, QRC said it plans to run medical assistance programs, with free checkups for those visiting mosques throughout the country, and hold awareness lectures on issues including nutrition and sun exposure.
Programs that run throughout the rest of the year include providing food, medical and financial assistance to families in need, school vouchers, education sponsorship funds and a “This is my wish” initiative for ill children.
RAF
Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) has joined forces with Aspire Zone Foundation to host a series of religious activities during the third annual Ramadan festival.
This will include 18 public lectures with 23 guests from around the world primarily at Aspire Zone and the surrounding area.
Dr. Ayed bin Dabssan al-Qahtani, chairman of the Board of Trustees and general director of RAF, told Gulf Times that highlights of the festival would include 12 Qur’an reciters leading night prayers at Aspire mosque.
The charity is also planning to distribute 2,000 specially-created Ramadan packs, 6,000 surveys, 2,000 books, 10,000 Aspire booklet and brochures and 3,000 CDs.
Moreover, volunteers will distribute about 600 meals to people who are on nearby roads during Maghrib prayer.
Reach Out to Asia
Reach Out to Asia (ROTA), a not-for-profit community development organization which is part of Qatar Foundation, works with volunteers daily during Ramadan to put together and distribute food packages for low-income families.
As part of its Ramadan campaign, volunteers for the charity will also renovate Bangladesh MHM School in Abu Hamour, and take part in initiatives at Qatar Foundation for Elderly Care, and with children at Rumailah and Hamad Hospitals.
In addition, dozens of organizations throughout Qatar initiate their own projects during Ramadan. Qatar Airways, for example, provides takeaway iftar boxes to Muslim passengers on its intra-Gulf flights.
What will you be doing to help out this Ramadan? Thoughts?
Whilst I applaud these gestures, how about raising the standard of living and wages, and provide the lower income workers with this type of assistance year round?
Whilst we are talking of low income workers…why have we not seen anything about the tragic accident on friday where 7 were killed DN???? I hope it’s not because they are low income workers??
What happened?
7 killed and 9 injured in a road accident….no t reported here but in print media. I would have thought very news worthy. Absolute avoidable tragedy
You are right. Just read this new. Very strange that DN didn’t cover it. Very very strange!
And no reply from them either. Why DN?
I can’t believe I hadn’t heard about this!! What a tragedy 🙁 thank you for sharing so I can go search it myself.
I find this report very disturbing for two reasons, one that low income workers need to be provided food. These people have jobs and hard jobs at that, if they are not paid enough to afford decent meals then that is a shame on their employers. The second is this divise stamement
“providing financial aid and Eid clothing bundles to low-income Muslim families who live in the country.”
Has humanity not learnt from the past that creating divisions and treating people differently due to race, faith or some other denominator is totally wrong? The fact that this discrimination comes in the form of charity makes it even worse.
I wish the best for all of humanity not just a select few.
” if they are not paid enough to afford decent meals then that is a shame on their employers”
many are paid enough, but getting free food for a month can make a huge difference in terms of how much they save.
while i agree with you sentiment, financial aid should be provided regardless of faith/race etc but 2 points
1. qatar does send alot of money abroad often to non muslims
2. you think there are many non Muslim low income families in qatar?
3, if they are many do you think they need “eid clothing bundles”
I guess you are right, if you can save a month’s food money then that is more you can send home to your family. Very good point.
I would assume there are Hindu, Buddist and some Christain Palestinian families that count as poor. I could understand their motive if they said poor Qatari families because of course charity begins at home.
there are poor hindu’s abd buddist but most who would be as poor as the workers would be single men not families,
palestinian christian families in qatar who are anywhere nearly poor enough to need this help, i doubt there are more of them in qatar than u can count on one hand.
also let me add that non Muslims need an “eid clothing bundle” about as much as i need a new Christmas sweater
As per my post–just asking–why cant other religions wear the clothes from the Eid clothing bundle? Is it because the clothes would be thobes or abayas? Am just interested to know.
they can, and theres no such thing as official eid clothes. people just like new clothes for eid. non muslims can certainly buy new clothes for eid. its just that when it comes to nice clothing for a holiday i prefer to give priority to people who celebrate said holiday. essentials and general aid however should be given to everyone as it is a time for helping others
No one ever needs a Christmas sweater especially one with a reindeer on the front.
What about one with bells sewn in?? Everyone needs that 🙂
Yeah, I forgot that one and the green socks with Santa on…
I’m sorry for my ignorance, but what is an “eid clothing bundle”? I haven’t heard that term before.
My assumption is it means new clothes for eid
I cant understand why all low income workers of any religion cannot get the financial aid and clothes–everyone wears clothes. Would the clothing be abayas or thobes–in which case that makes sense but if it is other types of clothing could other people not wear them? I think the charity is admirable and wonderful so many are doing so much–I hope it continues throughout the entire year but also that a stage can be reached where everyone has a minimum liveable income.
they do, there are many charities that operate all year round, many run by local mosques.