Maldives to donate USD100,000 to Gaza from Zakat Fund
The number of Fitr Zakat paid in the capital city has increased this year.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Maldives has decided to donate USD 100,000 from the Zakat Fund to Palestine, to help the people of Gaza.
This was announced in a statement issued by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs on Monday. According to the statement, the decision was taken under the direction of President Mohammed Muizzu.
The Islamic Ministry said the Zakat Fund will send humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Qatari Red Crescent. The ministry said:
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The aid will be sent in two payments to spend on food for the people of Gaza
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The Zakat Fund intends to send USD 100,000 in the first phase
In Maldives, Fitr Zakat is collected and distributed to the poor in every island. If there is no poor in the island, then Zakat goes to the needy in the next island.
The number of Fitr Zakat paid in the capital city has increased this year, according to statistics. The Islamic Ministry has begun distributing Zakat at the rate of MVR 8,000 to each person registered as poor in the city, and the ministry said the funds will directly be deposited in their respective bank accounts.
The ministry said the families of those who are imprisoned for various reasons will also receive assistance from Zakat. Zakat will also be given to those in children's shelters and special needs centres.
This is the first time that Maldives Zakat Fund has helped the needy outside the country. Maldivians have already sent aid to Gaza twice through the Qatari Red Crescent.
