43,000 volunteers register on IICO online platform since start of crisis
1,500 families & 6,000 workers to benefit
KUWAIT CITY, May 2: The International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) has started the distribution of some 8,000 food baskets to needy families and workers affected by the crisis, as part of the “Fazaa Kuwait” campaign, and under the program of the Ministry of Social Affairs that aims to unify the efforts of the charitable societies in the face of of the new Covid-19 pandemic, reports Al-Rai daily.
In this context, Director of Voluntary Work Department at IICO Abdullah Al-Awadi said that Friday was the second day of the volunteer workshop held in the morning for some 45 male and female volunteers packaging food baskets for the Fazaa Kuwait campaign.
He added the campaign has two groups in the morning specialized in packaging while the evening group specializes in distributing baskets to those who deserve, pointing out that the teams distributed about 250 baskets the previous day. He noted the activities will continue in the same manner for 10 days to distribute all donations from our honorable donors, indicating their success in packing 8,000 food baskets is through the support of 140 male and female volunteers.
He added the beneficiaries include about 1,500 vulnerable families and more than 6,000 workers affected by the repercussions of the epidemic, noting the above mentioned cases registered under the Ministry of Social Affairs program have been studied to prevent redistribution, and ensure that food is given in support of those who deserve.
He pointed out that the food basket is enough for the vulnerable families and workers and would last one month, as it consists of 20-kilogram rice, 3 oil cans, two cans of powdered milk, 5 kilograms of sugar, 4 kilograms of lentils, 16 cans of tomato paste, 5 kilograms of flour, 5 kilograms of noodles, 3 tea packs, 6 cans of beans and a carton of chicken.
Al-Awadi expressed appreciation to volunteers of various ages joining in the volunteer programs to fulfill the call of the country to serve Kuwait in these critical circumstances, noting the number of volunteers registered on the electronic platform of IICO since the beginning of the crisis has reached 43,000.
He pointed out that volunteers from both sexes have set the most wonderful examples of loyalty to their homeland and competition to serve citizens and residents in quarantines, in addition to the affected workers and shelters.
“Since the IICO launched an electronic link to register volunteers, numbers have been increasing day by day in a sort of response that reflects their loyalty to the dear homeland amid their eagerness to sacrifice for the sake of its stability and return of life to normal,” he said, stressing that this delicate situation the country is going through has produced brilliant images of human cohesion, the scramble for aid and support for the vulnerable families and workers.
Director of Human Resources and Services Department at the International Islamic Charitable Organization Bader Al-Maatouq said in solidarity with all charitable societies and government institutions, a group of volunteers has prepared Ramadan food baskets for families and individuals, as part of their social responsibilities. He explained that work continues from morning until midnight, while volunteers set out to distribute baskets with their own cars.
He added the authority has since the beginning of the corona crisis provided logistical support to a group of government institutions, including the Ministries of Health and Interior, Civil Defense, shelters, and workers in some government buildings.
He reaffirmed that the society has provided logistical support to some field hospitals such as those prepared in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area, with a ward and nursing crew the authority provides for.
He pointed out that the authority has provided the hospital with more than 3,000 beds and mattresses, and over 6,000 beds to the schools that accommodate workers, in coordination with Civil Defense.
Also, Golf cars were provided to transport patients into quarantines during the beginning of the crisis, in addition to sets of sterilization tools such as masks, gloves and sanitizers for some government agencies, and some devices like television sets, printing machines and inks, which means the authority has provided support since the beginning of the crisis until today and exceeding costs of 50,000 dinars in logistics. The society still continues serving through all its relevant platforms, he noted.
It is noteworthy the “Fazaa Kuwait” campaign was launched on the platform of Civil Society Alliance headed by Chairman of the International Islamic Charitable Organization, Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq, and the main platform is divided into five sub-platforms that include logistical, voluntary, media support and aiding the affected people and returnees from abroad.