Ramadan's Special Opportunities in West Bank/Gaza Photo Gallery

Sami Sits Guard--Happily

For several years the Near East Foundation and its partners have joined together to honor Ramadan's traditions, extending help to the poor and needy in the communities they serve, both in the West Bank/Gaza and Sudan. Beneficiaries are orphans like Palestinian Sami, widows, the elderly and the disabled, as well as low income families.

Redeeming a Coupon

NEF staff take care of distributions in cooperation with local mosques and councils in each West Bank village, where coupons are given to those in most acute need. Similarly in Sudan, distribution is made in cooperation with "Zakat" (charity) and other local committees, who best know their communities.

Bringing Communities Closer Together

For elderly Um Samir, Ramadan would have been a particularly sad time without NEF's help, isolated from surrounding festivities. Her husband is now in his 70s and the family lacks a regular income...even in the best of times. Um Khaled, unemployed and divorced, was profuse with her thanks, adding, "It's particularly important to share with one another during this period...makes us all feel so much closer together."

In the West Bank, each Ramadan food package contains about $50 worth of basic foods like milk, cheese, canned beans, lentils, tomato paste, pasta, tehina sauce, halawa, jam, and sugar.

Out-of-sight is not out-of-reach

Out-of-sight is not out-of-reach, NEF’s Ramadan food distribution reaches out to small Palestinian villages where suffering too often can be compounded by neglect.