News & Updates – Page 24 – John Janney Foundation

Posted on April 22, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

217,080 Meals Delivered to Families in Palestine

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GAZA, PALESTINE, April 22, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered food staples to provide 217,080 meals to impoverished families in Gaza and the West Bank, and more are currently being delivered to families struggling with hunger and food insecurity in other countries around the world.

Around 685 families suffering from extreme poverty were provided food packages so far. The food packages, which include items such as eggs, rice, pasta, cheese, oil and dates were distributed for the Ramadan season, a time marked by fasting, charity and worship.

Approximately 1.9 billion Muslims around the world observe the month of Ramadan, but many among them suffer from extreme poverty due to conflict, displacement, natural and man-made disasters, as well as other social, political and economic factors. According to the World Bank, this year saw an increase in poverty levels worldwide — the first rise in a generation of declining levels — due to the global pandemic, conflict, and climate change.

In the Gaza Strip, 1 in 3 people cannot afford nutritious food, and 80% rely on humanitarian aid, according to the UN. Beyond food insecurity, Gazans have been facing an alarming rise of coronavirus cases in the weeks leading up to Ramadan, as well as military airstrikes in the past few days, which have largely prevented families from accessing basic needs. The World Bank also warned that poverty rates will double in the West Bank due to the coronavirus pandemic and economic decline.

Baitulmaal provides food, water, medicine, healthcare and other aid to people in Palestine, and plans to deliver 3.9M meals during the 2021 Ramadan season to those in need around the world. The charity also collects and distributes zakat funds on behalf of their donors. If you would like to learn more or contribute to these programs at Baitulmaal, please visit their website at 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 Dallas, Texas, the charity has offices in: Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Nairobi, Kenya; Mogadishu, Somalia; Amman and Al Ramtha, Jordan; and Karachi, Pakistan.

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Posted on April 22, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

190,950 Meals Provided to Families in Pakistan

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SINDH, PAKISTAN, April 22, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered food staples to provide 190,950 meals to underprivileged families in Pakistan, and more are currently being delivered to families struggling with hunger and food insecurity in other countries around the world.

Various distribution points in Pakistan provided food packages to 475 families, including the Sujawal, Tharparkar, and Noshahro Feroz districts in Sindh and the Mansehra district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Aid recipients included widows and underserved families impacted by historic flooding in the last year.

The food packages, which include items such as rice, flour, lentils, potatoes and oil, were distributed for the Ramadan season, a time marked by fasting, charity and worship.

Although poverty was on the decline in Pakistan over the past 15 years, Pakistani government officials expect 10 million more people to fall under the poverty line this year due to the global pandemic and national economic downturn. This will bring those living in poverty up to 60 million across Pakistan. COVID-19 was just one factor impacting families in Pakistan. Last year saw one of the worst monsoon seasons in Pakistan, which killed 400, injured hundreds more, and displaced an estimated 200,000.

Baitulmaal provides food, water, medicine, healthcare and other aid to people in Pakistan, and plans to deliver 3.9M meals during the 2021 Ramadan season to those in need around the world. The charity also collects and distributes zakat funds on behalf of their donors. 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 April 22, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Syrian Families Receive 186,000 Meals for Ramadan

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IDLIB, SYRIA, April 22, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered food staples to provide 186,000 meals to internally displaced families in Northern Syria, and more are currently being delivered to families struggling with hunger and food insecurity in other countries around the world.

Approximately 500 Syrian families received donor-funded food packages to sustain them during the month of Ramadan. The majority of the food package recipients are women and children who recently settled in the Ma’arat Masrin refugee camp in Northern Syria.

The food packages, which include items such as rice, flour, lentils, canned goods and oil, were distributed for the Ramadan season, a time marked by fasting, charity and worship.

Recipients of the food packages are among the nearly 1 million Syrians who have been displaced by conflict in the past 16 months – bringing the total to over 6.7 million displaced Syrians within the country, and another 6.6 million living as refugees, according to figures from the UN. This makes Syrians the largest forcibly displaced population in the world today.

Baitulmaal provides food, water, medicine, healthcare and other aid to people in Syria, and plans to deliver 3.9M meals during the 2021 Ramadan season to those in need around the world. The charity also collects and distributes zakat funds on behalf of their donors. 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 April 22, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

212,400 Meals Delivered to Families in Somalia

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GALKACYO, SOMALIA, April 22, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered food staples to provide 212,400 meals to families stricken with poverty in Somalia, and more are currently being delivered to families struggling with hunger and food insecurity in other countries around the world.

Approximately 600 Somali families living in the Harhar settlement outside of Galkacyo received the donor-funded food packages. A majority of the recipients were women, orphans and the elderly who were displaced from their homes due to ongoing conflict, famine and climate-related disasters.

The food packages, which include items such as rice, flour, sugar and oil, were distributed for the Ramadan season, a time marked by fasting, charity and worship.

In Somalia, fluctuating drought and flooding have exacerbated food insecurity, and desert locusts have wiped out what little crops were grown. According to the UN, 4.1 million Somalis are food insecure, and 840,000 children under 5 are acutely malnourished. Over 2.9 million Somalis have been internally displaced by violence, famine and floods.

Baitulmaal provides food, water, medicine, healthcare and other aid to people in Somalia, and plans to deliver 3.9M meals during the 2021 Ramadan season to those in need around the world. The charity also collects and distributes zakat funds on behalf of their donors. 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 March 30, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

300 Water Tanks Refilled in Gaza

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GAZA, PALESTINE, March 30, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently completed another year of refills to 300 water tanks situated in various camps in the Gaza Strip that provide clean, potable water to the area’s residents.

Each tank provides access to free, clean water to approximately 50 individuals, or 7 families, throughout the year, for an estimated 15,000 total beneficiaries. Because the tanks are public and anyone in the area can access the tanks, this number may be higher, according to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal.

“Access to clean, safe water is a basic human right,” said Sohail. “These 300 donor-funded tanks provide water to people who would otherwise have to drink or wash with contaminated water, which makes so many people here sick.”

Baitulmaal operates the tanks in the following locations:

North governorate: (Beit Hanoun, Jablia Camp, Abraj Al Nada)
Gaza governorate: (Moghraqa, Al Zatoon)
Middle governorate: (Al Brouk, Um Dhair, Al Maghazi camp, Al Sawarha, Al Zawiada, Wadi Al Salqa, Deir Al Balah camp, Al Buraij refugees, Al Nusierat camp, Joher Al Diek)
Khanyounis governorate: (Nahr Al Bared)
Rafah governorate: (the Swedish Village, Al Mawasi)

The tanks are refilled weekly, except during the summer when they are filled more frequently to keep up with higher demand.

Water access and quality has been an area of high concern in Gaza, leading the UN to project that it would be “uninhabitable” by 2020. This thin strip of land, blockaded by Israel and Egypt, continues to suffer a water crisis that threatens its 2 million inhabitants. Experts estimate that 98% of groundwater is unfit to drink — often contaminated by sewage or highly salinated by seawater — and only 10 percent of Gazans have access to safe drinking water, according to the UN.

Limited freshwater sources are often sold by unregulated private vendors at unaffordable costs to residents, further burdening impoverished families. For those who are able to buy water, UNICEF estimates that two-thirds of this water is already contaminated by the time it is delivered, putting families at greater risk of waterborne diseases either way.

According to the latest figures by the UN, most Gazans have insufficient access to basic needs such as food, clean water, electricity and healthcare, and 1 million now live under the poverty line.

Baitulmaal provides food, water, medicine, healthcare, and other aid to people in Palestine. 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 March 24, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

URGENT! Help Rohingya Impacted by Fires in Refugee Camps

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COX’S BAZAR, BANGLADESH, March 24, 2021 — This past Monday, a devastating fire ripped through a densely populated campsite on the border of Bangladesh that is home to thousands of Rohingya refugees. As of this morning, at least 15 people are dead while hundreds remain missing and an estimated 45,000 have been displaced.

This is the second such fire this year alone, and the largest one yet.

Many Rohingya have lost everything — again.

We have mobilized relief efforts on the ground in Bangladesh, providing food, shelter, clothing, hygiene kits, home items and other basic necessities to victims of the blaze, and need your support now.

Because the plight of the Rohingya has only become worse.

Considered one of the most persecuted minorities in the world, nearly a million Rohingya fled their native Rakhine State in Myanmar to escape genocide and seek refuge in the hills of Southern Bangladesh.

Years of apartheid-like conditions and violent ethnic cleansing drove people from their homes with only the clothes on their back. Harboring stories of mass murder, rape, and deliberate destruction, traumatized Rohingya settled in makeshift tents that have grown into blocks of camps along the Bangladeshi border.

There are 34 such camps in Cox’s Bazar, many of which are identified by numbers, letters, or a combination of both. Rohingya in these camps face:

cholera outbreaks and other water-borne diseases
communicable diseases such as diarrhea, rashes, and lice
malnutrition and stunting in children (an estimated 30% of children under 5)
weather-related disasters such as floods and landslides, especially during monsoon seasons
high risk of campfires, such as one that destroyed over 500 shelters earlier this year and the recent blaze that tore through Balukhali camps 9, 10, 8E, and 8W
displacement after such disasters — with little belongings and nowhere to go.

The Rohingya are in desperate need of your support.

Their situation in these camps after barely surviving with their lives when fleeing violence was already bleak. Overcrowding, lack of adequate sanitation facilities, minimal access to safe drinking water and overall poverty only heightened the risk of COVID-19 within the Rohingya community in the last year — and now, what little they had is gone in an instant.

Your generous donations have helped improve the lives of Rohingya in Bangladesh, such as installing an electric tubewell to provide clean water, providing nutritious meals, and delivering winter aid, but now, they need your support as they reel from a horrible blaze that decimated everything.

Please give today. Help restore their lives, and restore their hope!

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Posted on March 20, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

17 Residential Buildings Rebuilt After Explosion in Lebanon

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BEIRUT, LEBANON, March 20, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently rehabilitated 17 residential buildings housing over 60 Lebanese residents impacted by the deadly explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020.

Construction crews replaced shattered windows, blown-out doors, and collapsed roofs in apartment buildings housing vulnerable populations before winter approached. Beneficiaries included families living under the poverty line whose homes sustained damage after the powerful blast. Among them were 13 elderly individuals, 2 female-headed households, 2 disabled persons, and 11 children.

The rehabilitation project was the latest phase of relief efforts aimed at aiding victims of the blast, according to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal.

“Losing their homes during a pandemic was devastating for many families who already suffered from rising poverty and joblessness in Lebanon,” said Sohail. “Ensuring safe housing was a priority to help protect them from the elements.”

Considered one of the strongest non-nuclear explosions in history, the blast rocked the city for miles, killing hundreds, injuring thousands, and leaving over 300,000 homeless. Baitulmaal coordinated relief efforts immediately after the blast, delivering food, water, and hygiene supplies in addition to clean-up efforts to remove debris from the streets. Medications and supplies were also distributed to hospitals in Beirut as part of Baitulmaal’s $686,000 emergency aid package.

Donors who would like to learn more or contribute to emergency aid programs at Baitulmaal can visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

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Posted on March 8, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Syrian Orphans, Refugee Families, Students Receive Winter Warmth

After surviving a bomb attack and finding shelter in a Turkish refugee camp, a Syrian girl admires her new shoes — a gift made possible by Baitulmaal donors. Children suffer tremendously in conflict zones, and a donor can bring hope where it is in short supply.

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URFA, TURKEY, March 8, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered winter essentials to 85 Syrian refugee families and 190 Syrian orphans. Warm meals were also served to 1,500 orphans while heaters and fuel were supplied to 6 schools serving 2,050 students in Northern Syria.

Orphaned children between the ages of 3 and 15 in the Syrian city of Tell Abyad received sweaters, trousers, jackets and shoes. Heaters and heating fuel were also supplied to 6 schools in the area serving a total of 2,050 students, including the Al-Sokariah primary and middle schools, Alatshana school, Kormaza school and Khirbet al-Raz school. In the neighboring Turkish governorate of Urfa, 50 Syrian refugee families received 2 heavy blankets each, and another 35 families received winter clothes for 100 children.

Baitulmaal’s executive director, Mazen Mokhtar, was on the ground in Turkey coordinating humanitarian efforts and delivering the much-needed aid. He said that many people in refugee camps have insufficient means to protect themselves against extreme weather, especially children, which is why his team were in the camps distributing warm meals and clothing as well as heaters to keep students warm at the schools.

“To see the faces of children light up when they receive new shoes or a jacket is truly a heartwarming experience,” said Mokhtar. “I saw one girl who was injured in a bombing and thought to myself how fragile, yet strong, these children are. I’m thankful our donors enable us to deliver hope where it is needed.”

According to the UN Refugee Agency, Syria has the largest displaced population in the world. More than 6 million people — including 2.5 million children — are displaced within Syria. Many displaced Syrians live in deplorable conditions owing to continued violence and escalating poverty. Tell Abyad, a Syrian city that shares a border with Turkey, has long been hotly contested and targeted during the now 10-year long conflict.

Baitulmaal recently delivered large floor mats and winter kits to Syrians in Idlib, four hours west of Tell Abyad, whose tents and belongings were impacted by severe winter weather. The charity also distributed bread for 94,677 meals to families facing food insecurity in Syria.

Donors who would like to learn more or contribute to emergency aid and orphan support programs at Baitulmaal can visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

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Posted on February 19, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Winter Kits Distributed to 800 Beneficiaries Impacted by the Cold in Pakistan

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KARACHI, PAKISTAN, February 19, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered winter kits to 800 villagers in rural Pakistan experiencing an unusually long period of cold this winter.

Warm clothes, shoes and blankets were distributed to 450 children, 150 women, and 200 men in rural villages in the Sindh province. These include Jati, Sawan Tharani, Salah Pusiyo, Khameeso Mallah, Abdullah Mallah, Liyar Jat, Hassan Mallah, and the Sujawal District.

According to meteorologists in the region, colder than usual temperatures were predicted, with some areas experiencing below freezing conditions. The colder, drier weather follows an extreme monsoon season and locust invasions which destroyed crops and displaced families last year. The situation was compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, which further impacted aid efforts.

Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal, said that many of the villagers were ill-equipped to withstand the cold.

“This year has been unseasonably cold in many regions,” Sohail said. “Many families in these villages needed shoes and jackets to protect against bone-chilling temperatures.”

Baitulmaal has been on the ground in some of the aforementioned villages digging water wells funded by donors in recent months. This enabled field workers to mobilize quickly to deliver the latest round of winter relief to affected communities.

Donors who would like to learn more or contribute to winter relief programs at Baitulmaal can visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

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Posted on February 12, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

450 Displaced Families in Syria Receive Aid After Recent Storms

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IDLIB, SYRIA, February 12, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered winter aid to 450 displaced families in northern Syria affected by severe winter storms.

Large floor mats and warm blankets were distributed to families in Maa’rat Masrin and surrounding camps near Idlib province where tens of thousands of displaced Syrian families have set up makeshift shelters in recent months. Torrential rains caused widespread flooding in the region, washing away food and belongings while strong winds ripped through tent settlements.

Baitulmaal, which had completed a round of winter aid in the camps a few months ago, mobilized quickly to reach those affected by the recent storms.

“What little belongings these families had were now soaked through and caked in mud,” said Elizabeth Sohail, programs manager at Baitulmaal. “It was crucial for us to provide them new blankets and items to keep them warm and dry through the rest of winter.”

According to Mark Cutts, the U.N.’s deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, at least 121,000 people were affected, 21,700 tents were destroyed, and one child was dead due to the storms. This contributes to what Cutts described as a “catastrophic situation” for Syrians already reeling from continuous conflict, freezing winter temperatures, and a relentless global pandemic.

In addition to winter aid, Baitulmaal also recently distributed bread for 94,677 meals to families facing food insecurity in Syria. Donors who would like to learn more or contribute to the emergency aid programs at Baitulmaal can visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

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