By Sanaullah Ataullah
DOHA: Qatar-based Sheikh Eid Charitable Association has started an initiative to provide free bread to millions of displaced Syrians. The staple, whose prices have hit the roof, is a luxury for most in war-torn Syria.
In its latest drive, the Association, also known as Eid Charity, is providing the traditional bread to 1.6 million displaced people in Syria.
The places where the bread packets are being distributed are Ghouta Al Sharqiya, Rif Demashq, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Idlib and Deraa, Latakia and Horan and Raqqa and Deir ez-Zo.
“The initiative is part of a drive entitled Bard Al Shita — Al Qalil Yakfi (cold of winter — a little bit is enough) launched by Eid Charity at a cost of QR60m,” said Ali bin Khalid Al Hajri,” a senior official from the Association.
The drive is meant to provide food, clothing and shelter to displaced Syrians in the country.
The increasing prices of bread in Syria due to the war has made it expensive to be out of the reach of the common man.
According to a report of the UN World Food Programme, more than 50 percent of Syrians are facing severe food shortage. Lives of some nine million Syrians are at risk due to a lack of access to basic food, said Al Hajari.
Eid Charity has provided 950 tonnes of wheat flour to bake the local bread in the northern parts of Syria, including Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and Al Lazqiya.
A similar initiative was launched at a cost of QR1.25m in Hummus. Eid Charity has launched several other initiatives to provide bread to suffering Syrians.
Only QR50 is enough to provide bread to a family for 30 days. Bread for a month for 34 families costs QR1,700.
Some 850 families can get enough bread for a month at QR42,500, said Al Hajari.
Eid Charity is operating 17 bakeries at 14 locations in Syria with a total capacity to bake bread for over two million people a day.
Donors can log into the website of EC — www.eidcharity.net or call 77073030 to make donations for the above initiatives.
Donations can also be made through mobile phone by typing 1 and messaging to 92024 for QR100 and to 92860 for QR500 and to 92861 for QR1,000.
The Peninsula
