The Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation (KAHF) distributed more than four hundred tons of high quality food aid throughout Lebanon ahead of Ramadan giving much-need supplies to 50,000 people. Joanna Andrews reports.
A team from the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation (KAHF) visited Lebanon from north to south giving much-needed food supplies to those in need throughout the country. It was part of a KAHF Ramadan campaign titled ‘Ramadan, Month of Benevolence from UAE’. The beneficiaries included poverty-stricken Lebanese as well as Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
The packages included quality dry staples with high nutrients, including rice, grains, sugar, ghee and oil.
The KAHF mission visited impoverished parts of the country including Arsal, a volatile enclave in the eastern Bekaa Valley.
They also travelled to Bourj El- Barajneh, Sidon, Tyre, and Palestinian refugee camps Ain al-Hilweh and Rashidieh, as well as Syrian refugee camps in Akkar. They distributed aid to many other towns and villages including Sabra, Tarik El-Jadida, Saqiyet El-Janzir, Chim, Iqlim El- Kharroub, Qubbat Shamra, Ashrafieh, Batroun, Hrar, Aarida, Bebnine, Deir Amar, Tripoli and Baalbek.
The team included Ziad Ida, Director of Community Relations and Safety, Al Habtoor Group; Abdul Salam Al Marzooqi, General Manager of the KAHF and Noura Badawi, Chief Communications Officer.
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group and Founder of the KAHF, said, “We aim, through my Foundation, to come to the aid of those in need, particularly over Ramadan, the month of giving.”
He added, “The good thing about the initiative in Lebanon is that my team distributed the aid ahead of Ramadan so that those suffering without basic needs can have food on their table over the Holy Month.”
The KAHF distributed a total of four hundred tons of aid to 50,000 people, feeding more than 8,000 families. It was conducted in coordination with the Lebanese Arab Crescent and municipality heads, religious leaders and prominent politicians. The aid was given without differentiation of religion.
Ms Badawi praised everyone who helped in the campaign, including the KAHF team, the Lebanese-Arab Crescent headed by Dr Ziad Al Ajouz, municipal council, clerics, officials, public figures and civil society groups.
She also credited the internal security forces and Lebanese army who ensured the aid was distributed safely.