Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said that USD 100,000 (MVR 1.5 million) from the Zakat Fund will be provided to the Qatar Red Crescent as a donation to the people of Gaza.
Shaheem said the assistance is being provided "to spend on food aid for the people of Gaza" and the donation will be provided in two parts. He did not reveal how much would provided first.
"This is the first time that the Zakat Fund of Maldives has been used to help a foreign party. In the past, national level assistance from the Maldivian people had been sent twice through the Qatar Red Crescent," he noted.
When questioned by Adhadhu, Shaheem said the ministry decided to issue the funds to the Qatar Red Crescent because the Maldivian Red Crescent is not directly working in Gaza.
The Palestinian lands, including Gaza, have been occupied by Israel for the past 75 years. The number of Palestinians killed since Israel's attacks on Gaza began six months ago is now over 33,000.
The Zakat Fund was established by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to help the poor and orphans. An agency called Zakat House has also been established to strengthen the fund.
