Al Islami Foods launches fundraising drive in aid of Gaza children

The drive will run under the theme - 'For Our Children in Gaza' - in collaboration with the UAE Red Crescent Authority and is part of Al Islami social responsibility programme.

All the proceeds collected throughout the two drives will be handed over to the UAE Red Crescent in a media gathering, which will held at the end of the drive. The Red Crescent will send the food and medical supplies to Gaza on behalf of Al Islami Foods. Throughout the drive, the Red Crescent has ensured full support to Al Islami initiative.

'For Our Children In Gaza' drive will be endorsed through Arabic and English language radio stations and newspapers in the UAE.

Spearheading the initiative to persuade the UAE business community and the general public, Al Islami Foods will donate a 10% of its sales profits of January and February 2009 to Gaza children through UAE Red Crescent Authority. The drive will run until the end of February at Al Islami group of companies - Al Farooj restaurants, Al Isalmi Cart, Al Islami Meat Shops and its retail partners, across the UAE.

Saleh Abdullah Lootah, the Chief Executive Officer of Al Islami Foods, commented:

"The humanity is moved by the brutal devastation, afflicting children, men and women in Gaza. Children deserve our attention and support more than elders as they do not know how to cope with starvation, wounds and anguish caused by the destruction of families, homes, markets, medical and community facilities."

Food prices in Gaza have risen by 32%, Palestinians in the besieged areas are now forced to spend around 67% overall - 73% amongst the poorest sector - of their income on food, according to a survey jointly undertaken last year by of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency UNRWA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

"We, the business community and the each member of Al Islami group of companies, are committed to support the humanitarian initiatives. We are making our all-out efforts to make Al Islami fundraising drive a successful example so that maximum supplies go to the affected people in Gaza to help them get food and medical facilities," he added.

Applauding the Al Islami initiative, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Zarouni, Manager, UAE Red Crescent Authority, Dubai office, stated, "We are glad to witness such an exemplary initiative of Al Islami to support the destitute in Gaza. The Red Crescent pledges its utmost support to these noble causes. The children in Gaza are really in urgent need of such a support and we urge UAE business community and the people to follow suit and contribute humanitarian aid to Gazans."

GCC -Wide Drive:

To spread maximum public awareness in favour of the Gaza, Al Islami products, specially endorsed with the 'For Our Children In Gaza' has been prepared. Campaign flyers, stickers and roll up banners are developed to send the message across to Al Islami distributors, suppliers, consumers in the GCC region.

Throughout the drive, specially designed roll-up banners will be displayed at Al Islami Head office, its retail partner shops, Al Farooj restaurant, Al Islami Carts and Al Islami Meat-Shop outlets in the UAE.

Employee Donations:

Concurrently, an in-house drive has also been started at Al Islami group of companies, the head offices, factory and in the warehouses where Al Islami employees will contribute and collect the maximum proceeds for Gaza children. The proceeds will be sent to Gaza through the Red Crescent, Dubai office.