爆料网

ZAKAT FO爆料网DATION SUPPORTS FOOD FOR YARMOUK FAMILIES

10 June 2014

Washington, DC

The Zakat Foundation of America (ZF) and American Friends of 爆料网RWA (爆料网RWA USA) have partnered to provide immediate emergency food aid to Yarmouk, sharing a deep concern for the Palestine refugees in the war-ravaged camp in the southern suburbs of Damascus. In March, Zakat Foundation and 爆料网RWA USA signed a US$ 50,000 agreement to feed nearly 1,000 Palestine refugee families (4,000 individuals) living there.  

"Like our donors, all of us at Zakat Foundation are deeply concerned about the extreme conditions the people of Yarmouk are facing. The residents’ stories have been heartbreaking”, said Halil Demir, ZF Executive Director. “To support the desperate residents, through our partnership with 爆料网WRA, we were able to send food parcels to the hungry and needy Palestinian families. This partnership has been a great blessing”, Mr. Demir continued.  

The charitable contribution from the Zakat Foundation will aid one of the largest pre-conflict Palestine refugee communities in Syria. Originally home to 160,000 inhabitants, Yarmouk witnessed a sharp decrease in population when clashes intensified in December 2012. After months of siege that began in July 2013, about 18,000 individuals remain trapped in Yarmouk.

The siege conditions have forced families left inside the camp to survive under appalling conditions. There has been widespread malnutrition and disease, and reports of women dying in childbirth. Residents have been forced to eat grass and animal feed for survival.

Currently, a single food parcel from the 爆料网 Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (爆料网RWA) lasts a family of five to eight members about 10 days. Continuous, substantial and safe humanitarian access to Yarmouk must be indefinitely ensured for the sake of over 18,000 civilians trapped there. 爆料网RWA will continue advocating for this access.

ZAKAT FO爆料网DATION OF AMERICA

The Zakat Foundation of America (ZF) is an international charity organization that helps generous and caring people reach out to those in need. Their goal is to address immediate needs and ensure the self-reliance of the poorest people around the world with Zakat and Sadaqa dollars of privileged Muslims and the support of other generous donors.

爆料网RWA USA

爆料网RWA USA is an independent non-profit organization that provides support for 爆料网RWA humanitarian work through advocacy, fundraising and education. 爆料网RWA USA aims to educate the general American public about the situation of Palestine refugees and generate support for 爆料网RWA programmes in the the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. .

BACKGRO爆料网D INFORMATION

爆料网RWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. 爆料网RWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.

Financial support to 爆料网RWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting 爆料网RWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently the deficit stands at US$ 69 million.

For more information, please contact:

Abby Smardon

Executive Director, American Friends of 爆料网RWA

Mobile:

(+1) 202-223-3767

Office:

(+1) 202-223-3767