(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Beneficiaries include people hit by war in Sudan refugees of Central Africa The sacks of wheat ready for distribution among the needy in underprivileged regions. — Supplied photos
Al Maktoum Foundation has started distributing 4446 sacks of wheat to the people hit by war in Sudan and the refugees of Central Africa. The distribution is part of the foundation’s Dh60 million budget allotted for charity projects abroad.
According to a senior official the charity foundation has planted 130000 acres of fertile agricultural lands in Atbara area to the north of Sudan with wheat this year.
Mohammed Obaid bin Ghannam secretary-general of Al Maktoum Foundation on Wednesday told Khaleej Times that the wheat crop this year is being exclusively distributed to the most poor and needy people in unprivileged regions. “The abundant harvest of 130000 acres planted with wheat in Atbara was delivered to the Islamic Dawah Organisation in Khartoum to distribute to the needy.”
The wheat was planted by the foundation in collaboration with Emirates Rawabi a leading integrated dairy and poultry products company. “The beneficiaries were very happy about the generous contribution and expressed their deep appreciation to the Al Maktoum Foundation for its kind and constant support.” The foundation has reached out to over 60 countries with its humanitarian initiatives since its inception in 1997.
Dr Mohammed Othman assistant secretary-general of the Islamic Dawah Organisation said they have adopted a “perfect plan” to distribute the 4446 sacks of wheat.
“The long list of beneficiaries includes the people hit by war in Darfur South Kordofan as well as the South Sudan refugees of the White Nile State and the Central African evacuees.” Education initiatives
Bin Ghannam said the foundation extended its philanthropic activities in Africa to education in implementation of the directives of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.
“Al Maktoum Foundation has so far built 40 secondary schools colleges and universities in Africa particularly in Somalia where over 1500 students are studying or have already graduated from the colleges of medicine pharmacy nursing engineering economy administration and other specialties.”
Top positions are always seized by the students enrolled at the Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum schools he noted. “This is basically due to the advanced education being offered there.”
Al Maktoum Foundation has donated $1 million for eradicating the illiteracy of Somali people as per a “lifetime education agreement” recently sealed with the UNESCO in Paris he added.
“The promising project which saw the presence of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid will provide education to young boys and girls deprived of learning due to the ongoing armed struggle.”
Other programmes
Mirza Hussain Al Sayegh board member of Al Maktoum Foundation earlier told Khaleej Times that 60 per cent of the foundation’s annual Dh100-million budget is dedicated for programmes abroad. “Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are benefiting from the generous assistance which hit about Dh1.2 billion over the period from 1997 to 2011.”
Al Sayegh pointed out that the foundation’s achievements cover education health religious programmes supporting students sponsoring orphans assisting special needs people and poor university students.
“Al Maktoum Foundation also sends necessary nonperishable foodstuff including rice flour sugar tea macaroni cooking oil etc. to deprived regions abroad” he said underscoring that they spent Dh50 million in the holy month of Ramadan this year on humanitarian and relief work.
ahmedshaabankhaleejtimes.com
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