News & Updates

17 Residential Buildings Rebuilt After Explosion in Lebanon

Baitulmaal Inc. · March 20, 2021 ·

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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 Baitulmaal.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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Syrian Orphans, Refugee Families, Students Receive Winter Warmth

Baitulmaal Inc. · March 8, 2021 ·

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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 Baitulmaal.org.

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

Baitulmaal Inc. · February 19, 2021 ·

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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 Baitulmaal.org.

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450 Displaced Families in Syria Receive Aid After Recent Storms

Baitulmaal Inc. · February 12, 2021 ·

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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 Baitulmaal.org.

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Winter Aid Delivered to 1,526 Flood Victims in India

Baitulmaal Inc. · February 8, 2021 ·

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BIHAR, INDIA, February 8, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently delivered winter aid to 1,526 individuals in India’s Araria district bordering Nepal in response to flooding in the area.

Winter blankets and food items such as rice were distributed to 285 families affected by last year’s monsoon rains, and were prioritized for widows, the elderly and needy families.

According to Elizabeth Sohail, programs manager at Baitulmaal, the charity’s local partners identified families who had not yet received aid. Field workers followed COVID-19 protocols to ensure the aid was distributed safely to recipients in light of the pandemic.

“COVID-19 related issues caused some delays, but we acted swiftly to get aid to those left out in the cold and struggling with hunger,” said Sohail. “Thanks to our generous donors, we were able to get warm blankets and food to villagers affected by the floods.”

Heavy flooding from monsoon rains left hundreds dead and millions displaced across South Asia last year. Flash floods continued to affect rural villages, leading to landslides, power outages, and destruction of homes, roads and bridges. In Bihar, India’s poorest state, approximately 8 million people were impacted and thousands were left homeless.

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

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