Lahore: Marking two years since the outbreak of war in Gaza, Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan organized a special meeting at its headquarters to review ongoing relief operations for the people of Gaza.
Addressing the meeting, President of Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, Professor Dr. Hafeezur Rehman, said that the Foundation has spent Rs7.9 billion on Gaza relief operations over the past two years. He said Alkhidmat's humanitarian assistance has continued without interruption, with relief operations carried out from Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and within Gaza itself.
Prof. Dr. Hafeezur Rehman said that 28 aircraft and four cargo ships have so far been dispatched from Pakistan, carrying a total of 4,857 tonnes of relief goods for the affected Palestinian families.
He added that Alkhidmat Foundation launched an Orphan Family Support Programme in Gaza under which 937 orphan children are receiving monthly educational, nutritional, and medical assistance. In addition, 129 Gaza-affected families living in Egypt are being provided with financial support.
Highlighting Alkhidmat's efforts in education, he said that 361 Palestinian students both medical and non-medical came to Pakistan for higher education under Alkhidmat's scholarship programme, out of which 49 have graduated and returned to Gaza, while 50 students are currently studying in Turkey on Alkhidmat-funded scholarships.
Prof. Dr. Hafeezur Rehman said that Alkhidmat has distributed over 60,000 food packs, 356,000 canned meals, 320,000 food boxes, 2.158 million water bottles, 7,000 Iftar packs, 4,867 vegetable baskets, and various other food items to the affected families in Gaza.
In the health sector, three ambulances, 451 tonnes of medicines, 26,000 hygiene kits, 17,500 safe delivery kits, and 20,000 baby kits have been provided to the war-hit areas. Furthermore, 25,341 tents and tarpaulins, 72,609 blankets, 3,000 mattresses, and over 1,000 winter packages were distributed among displaced families.
He said that while most universities, colleges, and schools in Gaza were destroyed, Alkhidmat Foundation established two schools within Gaza to reconnect students with education, where hundreds of children are currently enrolled. Additionally, in partnership with local organizations in Cairo, three schools are providing education to 1,000 Gaza children.
Prof. Dr Hafeezur Rehman reaffirmed that Alkhidmat's relief operations will continue, and once the conflict ends, the Foundation will play an active role in the rehabilitation and rebuilding phase within its available resources and operational scope.
He expressed gratitude to donors and volunteers in Pakistan and abroad, saying, 'Our donors and volunteers are the true strength of Alkhidmat - through them, we are able to reach the affected people and complete large-scale humanitarian projects.'