Emergency Aid – John Janney Foundation

Posted on August 31, 2025 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Responds to Mass Afghan Deportations

Herat, Afghanistan August 31, 2025 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently provided emergency aid to nearly 10,000 Afghans affected by mass deportations from neighboring countries.

The aid included the distribution of 18,000 hot meals, transportation, clean water, and hygiene kits to people in the Islam Qala border camps. According to Elora Bashir, senior manager of program operations at Baitulmaal, most of the beneficiaries were women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

“No one should have to endure displacement and uncertainty alone,” Bashir said. “Providing meals, clean drinking water, and basic supplies is our way of standing with our Afghan brothers and sisters during their most difficult moments.”

According to UNICEF, 80 percent of households in Afghanistan cannot afford a nutritious diet, and only 12 percent of children aged 6–24 months receive the appropriate variety and quantity of food needed for healthy growth.

Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to massive deportations. Since March 2025, over 1.5 million Afghans have been forcibly returned, overwhelming the country’s already fragile infrastructure and economy.

In addition to delivering emergency aid to earthquake survivors in Afghanistan, Baitulmaal has also provided fresh meat for Udhiyah, and Ramadan food meals, and provided winter relief. To learn more about or contribute to these efforts, visit johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Europe, Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Posted on August 28, 2025 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal on the Ground in Gaza, Delivering Life-Saving Aid to 70K People

GAZA, PALESTINE August 28, 2025 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently delivered essential emergency aid to more than 70,000 people in the besieged Gaza Strip as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

The aid included cans of baby formula, 360,000 liters of clean water, more than 500 vegetable baskets, 600 hot meals and loaves of fresh bread for vulnerable families in Al-Mawasi displacement camp in Khan Younis. According to Ahmed Sherif, senior manager of international programs at Baitulmaal, most of the beneficiaries were children, displaced people, women, and the elderly.

“For the past five months, baby formula has been unavailable in the Gaza Strip, causing widespread malnutrition and claiming the lives of hundreds of children,” Amir, Baitulmaal Palestine field officer said. “Starvation and famine have reached their peak, but today’s delivery offers more than nourishment — it gives the children of Gaza a glimpse of hope and a light in the midst of this dark crisis.”

According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), one in five children under the age of five in Gaza City is now malnourished.

In addition to providing emergency aid in Gaza, Baitulmaal has been providing Iftar meals and Ramadan food packages, opened temporary schools, deployed medical missions, and continues to operate 400 water tanks in Gaza. To learn more about or contribute to these efforts, visit johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices and representatives in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Europe, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.

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Posted on April 19, 2025March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Delivers Over 700K Liters of Clean Water in Kenya

WAJIR, KENYA April 19, 2025 – Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently distributed 720,000 liters of safe-drinking water in Kenya, benefiting more than 15,400 people and livestock in areas severely affected by prolonged droughts and insufficient rainfall.

According to Ahmed Sherif, senior manager of international programs at Baitulmaal, most of the beneficiaries included women, orphans, and people with disabilities living in Wajir County.

“Access to clean water is a basic human right, yet thousands in Wajir live without it,” said Sherif.“By delivering safe drinking water directly to these communities, we are helping close the gap in access to essential resources.”

According to the Kenyan Ministry of Water and Sanitation, more than 80% of Wajir County’s population faces chronic water shortages, with many relying on seasonal water pans and unprotected sources that are often unsafe for consumption.

In addition to responding to emergency aid in Kenya, Baitulmaal has also provided fresh meat for Udhiyah, and Ramadan Food Packages. To learn more about or contribute to these efforts, please visit johnjanney.org/.

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Posted on February 6, 2025March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Opens School for Displaced Children in Gaza

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GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE February 6, 2025 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently completed the construction and opening of a temporary school that will provide education and psychosocial support to 1,344 displaced children in the besieged Gaza Strip.

According to Ahmed Sherif, senior manager of international programs at Baitulmaal, the school, named “The Hope School,” will provide students with education in English, Arabic, mathematics and other core subjects taught by qualified teachers, in addition to counseling and social support.

“This project stands as an inspiring initiative that provides displaced students with a vital lifeline during challenging times,” Sherif said. “By establishing temporary schools and offering essential education and psychosocial support, the project empowers these students to persevere in their educational journey and navigate the emotional trauma of displacement.”

The project will address the disruption of education in Gaza and features the following benefits:

Educational Continuity: Prevents students from losing an entire academic year, ensuring they can continue their education without significant disruptions.
Knowledge Acquisition: Enables students to gain new knowledge and skills, which can be crucial for their future development and opportunities.
Emotional Well-being: Provides psychosocial support to help students cope with the stress and trauma associated with displacement.
Sense of Normality: Offers a sense of normalcy and routine, which can be particularly important for children and adolescents.
Hope for the Future: Gives students hope for the future by providing them with opportunities to learn and grow, despite their challenging circumstances.

Baitulmaal constructed the temporary school and furnished the classrooms, and UNICEF will operate the school.

According to the UN, the majority of Gaza’s schools have been bombed or turned into shelters for displaced people, leaving Gaza’s estimated 625,000 school-aged children unable to attend classes. All 12 of Gaza’s higher education institutions have been destroyed or damaged. Over 39,000 students were unable to graduate in 2023, and more than 45,000 first graders were unable to start their education as of September 2024, according to UNICEF. Prior to the recent escalation in violence in the region, Palestine had consistently high literacy rates, placing it among the highest globally, according the the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The absence of schooling has impacted the social, cognitive, and emotional development of children in the region.

Baitulmaal continues to provide aid during the current crisis. If you would like to learn more about or contribute to Baitulmaal’s efforts in Palestine, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

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Baitulmaal Special Project: The Hope School in Gaza

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Posted on October 1, 2024March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Delivers Meat for More than 440K Meals Across Palestine, Including Gaza

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GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE October 1, 2024 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently completed the distribution of frozen and canned meat for more than 400,000 meals in Gaza, in addition to fresh meat for 40,800 meals in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza donated for the Islamic giving season of Udhiyah.

In the West Bank and Jerusalem, 40 sheep and 20 cows were prepared during the days of Eid and provided 2 kg (approximately 4.5 lbs) of fresh meat to 3,000 families. In the besieged Gaza Strip, 80 sheep provided 2 kg (approximately 4.5 lbs) of fresh meat to 1,000 families during the holiday.

According to Ahmed Sherif, senior manager of international programs at Baitulmaal, the majority of meat was sourced outside of the Gaza Strip to ensure as many families as possible received meat from Udhiyah donations.

“Due to the difficult situation within Gaza, it was necessary to think creatively about how we can source and deliver meat to displaced families while fulfilling our donor’s wishes to provide Udhiyah to those in most dire need,” Sherif said. “We were able to perform the Udhiyah in Egypt and Jordan, and then freeze or can the meat for delivery when the situation allowed. Thankfully, we were able to ensure all the meat was distributed in Gaza within a few weeks.”

Baitulmaal was among a handful of organizations that were able to source meat outside of Gaza for delivery within the besieged strip, according to Sherif. The charity worked in conjunction with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) to process 12,000 kg (approximately 26,500 lbs) of meat from 500 sheep and deliver 35,000 cans into Gaza from Erez Crossing. Approximately 5,830 families in North Gaza received 6 cans of meat per family. In Egypt, 60,000 kg (approx 132,300 lbs) of meat from 250 sheep and 320 cows was frozen and delivered into Gaza from the Karem Abu Salem Crossing. Approximately 33,500 families in South Gaza and Al-Areesh received 2 kg (approx. 4.5 lbs) of frozen meat per family.

“This was the first time in 9 months that we received such quality meat,” said one beneficiary. “We were finally able to enjoy a dinner of maqluba (a traditional dish made of rice and meat.)”

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ongoing restrictions on the entry of humanitarian supplies into northern Gaza have resulted in a “near total absence of protein sources such as meat and poultry,” while the shortage of animal feed impacts local production of fresh nutritious food like meat and dairy products, which are key to a healthy and nutritious diet, especially for children.

More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the span of 10 months, and more than 1.9 million remain internally displaced. In June 2024, the World Food Programme reported that 96% of Gaza’s population faced “acute food insecurity” and raised the alarm over a “high risk of famine.” By July, a group of UN experts declared for the first time that “there is no doubt famine has spread in the north, center, and south of Gaza” after citing recent child deaths due to starvation.

Baitulmaal has been working in Palestine for more than a decade providing food, clothing, education support, seasonal giving, emergency aid and healthcare in Palestine, in addition to operating 400 water tanks in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, Baitulmaal has been on the ground in Gaza providing food, shelter kits, hygiene supplies, clean water, psychosocial support, temporary housing, and other emergency aid. The charity distributed food for more than 10 million meals during the holy month of Ramadan and continues to operate food kitchens and weekly water truck deliveries. In June, Baitulmaal also completed the first month of its medical mission to support vulnerable patients in the besieged Gaza Strip.

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Learn More About Baitulmaal’s Gaza Udhiyah Project

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Posted on September 20, 2024March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Responds to Flood Emergency in Yemen

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MA’ARIB, YEMEN September 20, 2024 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently distributed emergency aid to 8,700 people in Yemen after flash floods struck the region.

Approximately 1,300 families living in Ma’arib and Al-Hudaidah received hot meals, shelter essentials, and food packages containing flour, rice, cooking oil, and canned goods.

The beneficiaries included vulnerable and displaced families, according to Ahmed Sherif, senior manager of international programs at Baitulmaal.

“For almost a decade, Yemen has been struggling with one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world,” said Sherif. “These floods have caused even more distress within the country. Our donors very generously extended their compassion to the people of Yemen.”

According to the United Nations, over half a million people were severely impacted by the unprecedented flooding and windstorms in Yemen. The storms struck as the country continues to grapple with a cholera outbreak and escalating food insecurity, further exacerbating the vulnerability of displaced families and strained health systems.

In addition to sending emergency aid, Baitulmaal has also provided fresh meat for Udhiyah, distributed Ramadan food packages, delivered more than $4 million in medical aid, constructed solar-powered water wells, and provided winter aid and hygiene kits in Yemen. To learn more about or contribute to these efforts, visit johnjanney.org/.

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Posted on September 1, 2024March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Responds to Flood Emergency in Bangladesh

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COX’S BAZAR, BANGLADESH September 1, 2024 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently distributed emergency aid to 1,000 families in Bangladesh after flash floods struck the region.

Food packages for an estimated 160,000 meals were distributed to families impacted by the floods. Approximately 300 Rohingya families living in Cox’s Bazar and 700 Bengali families living in Chittagong received food baskets containing rice, oil, lentils, onions, potatoes, and spices. Each family also received two mosquito nets to protect them from the spread of malaria.

The beneficiaries included vulnerable and displaced families, according to Ahmed Sherif, senior manager of international programs at Baitulmaal.

“The devastating floods have displaced hundreds of thousands of families and left them in need of food and protection,” said Sherif. “Thanks to generous donors, we were able to mobilize relief efforts quickly to address these needs.”

According to the United Nations, over 18 million people in Bangladesh have been affected by severe monsoon conditions, with more than 1.2 million families trapped as flash floods submerge vast areas of the country’s east and southeast. Massive damage has also been reported to roads, croplands, and fisheries, severely impacting livelihoods.

In addition to emergency aid, Baitulmaal provides food assistance and winter aid to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. If you would like to learn more or contribute to these programs at Baitulmaal, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

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Posted on July 18, 2024March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Sends Medical Teams to Gaza

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GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE July 18, 2024 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonproft, recently completed the first month of its medical mission to support vulnerable patients at the Nasser Medical Complex in the besieged Gaza Strip.

According to Riham Mahmoud, Baitulmaal’s health delegate in Cairo and former employee of the Gaza Ministry of Health, the goals of Baitulmaal’s medical mission include:

- - decreasing mortality and complications among ill, injured, or pregnant patients;
  - increasing access to quality healthcare;
  - boosting capacity building among Gaza’s healthcare providers, including technical surgical skills;
  - decreasing the wait time for surgeries;
  - and improving the efficiency of medical interventions by providing essential needs such as drugs, equipment, and disposables.

Three physicians participated in Baitulmaal’s inaugural medical mission to Gaza: U.S.-based obstetricians Dr. Hina Cheema and Dr. Thalia Raya Pachiyannakis joined neonatologist Dr. Zohair Lahna from France at the Nasser Medical Complex. The doctors volunteered their time and expertise to support maternal and newborn healthcare in Gaza amid ongoing blockades and bombardments in the region.

“We witnessed four stillbirths that could have been prevented if there was appropriate equipment,” Dr. Cheema said during an interview with Hind Khoudary of Al-Jazeera English. “It is heartbreaking…the stillbirth rate has increased. Babies are dying, and they should not have to die.”

Despite the daily horrors and severe lack of resources, there is still hope according to Dr. Pachiyannakis.

“It is so inspiring to see the Palestinian doctors come to work every day and give their all to the Palestinian people that are suffering,” she said. “They are working under unbelievable stress with limited resources. They are not being paid for nine months, all the staff, but they come with such happiness because they are caring for their patients.”

Nasser Medical Complex, located in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, is one of the key healthcare facilities in the region providing essential medical services to the population despite ongoing hostilities and severe resource constraints. The hospital has been severely affected by the conflict, experiencing extensive damage to its infrastructure, including critical areas such as the maternity ward, ICU, and the Limb Reconstruction Centre, which previously helped over 400 patients avoid amputation. Medical staff resumed services at the Nasser Medical Complex to care for the increasing number of patients impacted by ongoing displacement and hostilities in the Gaza Strip, but continues to face severe shortages of fuel, equipment, staff, and other resources.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, more than 38,000 people have been killed in Gaza, and more than 88,000 have been wounded according to local health officials. Malnutrition and disease have become widespread due to frequent displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and ongoing blockades on food, water, fuel, and other essential resources. The latest U.N. figures report that 23 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are out of service, more than 60 percent of Gaza’s primary health facilities have shut down, and those that are remaining are only partially functional. More than 500 healthcare workers have also been killed since October, while women, children, and newborns are disproportionately bearing the burden of the hostilities in Gaza.

Baitulmaal has been on the ground in Gaza providing food, shelter kits, hygiene supplies, clean water, psychosocial support, temporary housing, and other emergency aid since October 7. Baitulmaal has been working in Palestine for more than a decade providing food, clothing, education support, seasonal giving, emergency aid and healthcare in Palestine, in addition to operating 400 water tanks in Gaza.

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(Interview with Baitulmaal-Sponsored Physicians begins at 01:48)

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Posted on May 1, 2024March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Distributes More Than 10M Meals in Palestine During Ramadan

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DALLAS, TX May 1, 2024 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently distributed 10,196,500 Ramadan meals across Palestine as part of the Islamic month of Ramadan.

Eighteen truckloads of food packages were successfully brought into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing as part of Baitulmaal’s 4th aid convoy. Food for approximately 9,183,500 meals was distributed to thousands of displaced Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip. In addition to distributing food packages that contained essentials such as oil, flour, rice, dates, cheese, and canned goods, the charity operated Baitulmaal Kitchens in Jabalia Camp in northern Gaza and Rafah City in the south. Field teams prepared up to 2,000 freshly-made hot meals daily and provided access to approximately 150,000 liters of clean water at various locations.

In the West Bank, food for approximately 1,013,000 meals was distributed in Nablus, Balata, and other camps, as well as in Jerusalem. In addition to food packages, 8,500 ready-to-eat iftars were provided in the West Bank, and another 8,500 iftars were provided to worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

According to Ahmed Sherif, international offices manager at Baitulmaal, ongoing violence in Gaza has drastically impacted food security across Palestine.

“The most severe food crisis is occurring in northern Gaza, so our teams began to allocate resources there before Ramadan in order to maximize food preparation and distribution to displaced people there and in the south,” Sherif said. “We also made sure to distribute food in the West Bank and Jerusalem, where many families are also experiencing aggression and food insecurity.”

In addition to food package distribution, hot meal preparation, and water access points, the charity also distributed Eid clothes to 1,500 displaced Palestinian children in north and south Gaza, and held Eid celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan.

“Our compassion extended beyond the necessities of life to ensure that children in Gaza also experienced the joy of the holidays,” Sherif said. “We are very grateful to our generous donors for enabling these efforts and continuing to support our brothers and sisters in need.”

Since October 7, Israeli forces have killed approximately 35,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, injured over 70,000, and displaced more than 1 million residents, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israel also imposed a blockade on food, water, fuel and electricity from entering Gaza, allowing only a fraction of aid trucks into the besieged Gaza Strip.

Baitulmaal has been on the ground in Gaza providing food, shelter kits, hygiene supplies, clean water, psychosocial support and other emergency aid since October 7. The charity has also successfully mobilized four humanitarian aid convoys, with a total of 53 trucks crossing into Gaza to date. Baitulmaal has been working in Palestine for more than a decade providing food, clothing, education support, seasonal giving, emergency aid and healthcare in Palestine, in addition to operating 400 water tanks in Gaza. Having staff and resources on the ground has enabled Baitulmaal to quickly mobilize emergency aid from existing stock within Gaza to families in need, as well as efficiently receive and distribute additional humanitarian aid through Rafah crossing.

Baitulmaal continues to provide aid during the current crisis and will deliver more aid into Gaza as the situation allows. If you would like to learn more about or contribute to Baitulmaal’s efforts in Palestine, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

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Posted on April 19, 2024March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Distributes Safe-Drinking Water to 10K Displaced Palestinians in Gaza

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GAZA, PALESTINE April 19, 2024 – Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently distributed 50,000 liters of safe-drinking water in Gaza that served approximately 10,000 Palestinians.

According to Ahmed Sherif, senior manager of international programs at Baitulmaal, the beneficiaries included approximately 2,000 families living in the Jabalia refugee camp in North Gaza. These families have been forced out of their homes and internally displaced after decades of severe bombardment.

“Women and children gathered around the water trucks eagerly filling their containers with fresh water,” Sherif said. “For many, this was the first time in weeks they were able to access clean water.”

According to the UN, more than 96 percent of the groundwater in Gaza is “unfit for human consumption.” Since the extreme blockade of humanitarian aid in Gaza, resources have been severely limited, making safe, clean water difficult to find. Waterborne diseases such as polio have been rising due to the contamination of the water, posing huge risks to an already vulnerable population.

Baitulmaal has been on the ground in Gaza providing food, shelter kits, hygiene supplies, clean water, psychosocial support and other emergency aid since October 7. Baitulmaal has been working in Palestine for more than a decade providing food, clothing, education support, seasonal giving, emergency aid and healthcare in Palestine, in addition to operating 400 water tanks in Gaza. Having staff and resources on the ground has enabled Baitulmaal to quickly mobilize emergency aid from existing stock within Gaza to families in need.

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