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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.
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/.
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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