KING ABDULLAH LAUNCHES FOOD RELIEF CAMPAIGN FOR GAZA

The targeting of mosques by Israeli warplanes in the latest offensive was three times higher than in 2008 and 2009, the report said. (Photo: MEMO) — **The targeting of mosques by Israeli warplanes in the latest offensive was three times higher than in 2008 and 2009, the report said.** (Photo: MEMO)

Jeddah, 6 Dzulqa’dah 1435/1 September 2014 (MINA) – A food distribution program worth more than SR11 million (US$2.9 million) has been launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in aid of the people of Gaza.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif is supervising the campaign. The first stage involves supplying flour to Palestinian families, IINA News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“This project is the result of the Kingdom’s efforts to provide Palestinians with their basic needs and ease their suffering,” said Saed Al-Harthi, adviser to the interior minister and president of the campaign.

The food distribution program is part of various programs financed by a Saudi committee that are currently being implemented in the strip. The committee recently signed an agreement with several bodies to help get aid into the besieged area.

“The campaign was able to implement projects that ease the suffering of the wounded, widowed, ill and orphaned, while introducing medical, social, educational and residential programs under the direct supervision of the interior minister,” said Al-Harthi.

The campaign offers aid in kind worth more than SR234 million. Weighing 45 kg each, the 7,000 food parcels that have been distributed so far include vegetable oil, flour, rice, tea, spaghetti, dates and sugar.

Around 200 tons of flour sacks weighing 25 kg each have also been distributed. The campaign will distribute 25,000 food parcels and 800 tons of flour and loaves of bread over several stages.

The campaign targets a large number of people and parcels are given out to hospitals, orphanages and facilities for the disabled.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz approved $1 million to support humanitarian operations in the West Bank, 18 August. The donation was in response to a proposal by the World Food Programme targeting 81,000 Palestinians.

The funding will be provided by the Saudi Committee for the Relief for the Palestinian people. Earlier August, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal led an emergency meeting in Jeddah with the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to develop recommendations to end the crisis in Gaza.

During the meeting, Prince Saud announced that international donors, including Saudi Arabia, pledged $500 million for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Saudy Embassy reporting.

In July, Saudi Arabia provided the Palestinian Ministry of Health with $26.7 million to meet medicine and supply shortages and $53.3 million to the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza.(T/R05/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)