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The
Zakat Foundation of America is in a unique position among charity
organizations as we opened an office last year. Originally this office
was established to facilitate better care of Palestinian refugees
living in Lebanon. Little did we know that having this registered and
recognized office would provide a gateway to help those suffering
under the onslaught of war.
Our
office manager in Lebanon has established a network of workers and
volunteers as well as a supply train to maintain the distribution of
food, clean water, mattresses, blankets, and first aid kits to those
who have been displaced from their homes. Many times our teams have
found people sleeping on rocks and stones and were overjoyed to
provide them with a soft mattress on which to rest. The situation is
indeed a desperate one, as our reports constantly indicate that most
villages had been untouched by relief organizations until our people
arrived.
By
the grace of Allah, we have been able to help the following locations:
Saida City, Al-Wardaniya, Al-Naameh, Wady Al-Zainey Camp, Siblin,
Masboud, Dalhoun, Al-Moughairiya, Shehim, Daraya, Aanout, Hasrout,
Al-Jiyah, Al-Zaarouriya, and Barja. With the exception of Saida City
and Al-Naameh, all these locations are in the region of Iqlim
Al-Kharoub. Also, we were the only organization serving Jabal Lubnan
(Mount Lebanon) region.
Because
our office is already in place, our teams have been able to provide
aid since the earliest days of the war. Even as the first refugees
fled north from Beirut they encountered our workers ready to
distribute food and clean water.
In
addition to distributing supplies, we have an ongoing free clinic that
is staffed by three doctors and three nurses. This clinic has been
operating for quite some time and is serving at least 35 persons
daily. At the beginning of this tragedy the clinic was serving over
100 persons a day.
The
dedication of our team is such that even now when fuel is no longer
available for the trucks, the team is using a fleet of bicycles and
sometimes it even delivers food and clean water on foot.
We
are very grateful to have such dedicated brothers working on this
project, and we are grateful that Allah has placed us in this position
of responsibility. Our work is our love, and we want to share this
love and hope with all Muslims.
For
further updates from the Zakat Foundation of America see the
following:
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