Sharjah Charity International Disburses AED 84.3M In Aid Across UAE In First Half Of 2024

The Sharjah Charity International (SCI) allocated AED84.3 million to aid programmes within the UAE in the first half of this year. This amount included AED6.7 million for monthly aid, AED31.2 million for seasonal programmes, and AED39.6 million for one-time aid, as reported by the Department of Excellence and Strategic Planning.

Abdullah bin Khadim, Executive Director of SCI, highlighted that internal aid is a priority for the association. He stated that such aid promotes happiness, living stability, family cohesion, and loyalty among beneficiaries. The one-time aid of AED39.6 million included AED15 million for medical assistance, benefiting 743 patients with severe conditions like viral hepatitis, cancer, and kidney failure.

Medical aid covered essential treatments such as liver transplants, heart surgeries, eye surgeries, caesarean sections, and prosthetics. The association relies on charitable individuals to support these critical needs.

Bin Khadim mentioned that housing assistance worth AED8.3 million was provided to 906 beneficiaries. This aid included restoring and maintaining dilapidated homes and providing essential appliances and furniture based on field studies and social research reports for each family.

The assistance also covered overdue rent payments for those unable to pay and settled electricity and water bills that had been cut off due to accumulated arrears caused by difficult living conditions.

In support of students from low-income families, educational assistance totalling AED4.8 million was provided. This aid covered tuition fees and supplied tablets to over 680 students.

Support for Inmates and Monthly Aid

The association helped 1,100 individuals secure their release from penal and correctional facilities by paying off their debts in collaboration with relevant authorities.

Bin Khadim noted that total cash assistance provided to eligible recipients, including orphans, widows, divorcees, and those who have lost their livelihood amounted to AED6.7 million during the first half of the year. This assistance is typically granted for six months and is renewable based on the family's circumstances as determined by the assistance committee and social research reports.

Seasonal Aid Programmes

The association provided a total of AED31.2 million in seasonal aid during the first half of the year. This included the Ramadan campaign "Joud," which covered Iftar projects, Ramadan provisions, Zakat Al-Fitr, Zakat Al-Mal, and Eid clothing.

The Winter campaign provided winter clothes and heavy blankets to workers as a gesture of gratitude for their dedicated efforts in serving the nation.

Feeding Food Initiative

In the first half of this year, SCI distributed meals to needy individuals across the UAE as part of its ongoing "Feeding Food" charitable project. This initiative cost AED3.2 million and included Iftar for fasting individuals, expiation for fasting violations, oath fulfilments, Aqeeqah ceremonies, and feeding the poor.

Community Participation Projects

The association carried out several projects under its community participation programmes within the country totalling AED3.4 million. These efforts were made possible through support from benefactors which significantly enhanced partnerships between SCI and other institutions in the country.

This collaboration improved the quality of services provided to the public by these institutions while focusing on assisting members of organisations operating within a humanitarian framework aligned with SCI’s goals.

With inputs from WAM