Jerusalem – The Ramadan charity campaign led by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency (BMAQ) has evolved into a comprehensive socio-economic support mechanism, providing vital assistance to vulnerable families while revitalizing local commerce, supporting merchants, and creating temporary jobs for youth amid the city’s challenging living conditions.
The 1447 AH campaign marks a notable shift from standardized, pre-packaged food aid to a voucher-based system, empowering beneficiary families to select their own essential food items. This approach not only respects their dignity but also enables them to shop normally at approved stores, free from any sense of stigma or embarrassment.
Under this initiative, beneficiaries can visit participating shops to purchase essential food items—such as rice, oil, flour, legumes, canned goods, milk, and dates—using vouchers at checkout, in a manner that promotes social solidarity and community cohesion.
5,112 Coupons to Support Jerusalemite Families
Organizers of the “Grand Ramadan” initiative announced that this year’s program includes the distribution of 5,112 shopping vouchers, each valued at 350 shekels (approximately $140), benefiting thousands of families in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas.
Revitalizing the Economic Cycle and Supporting Traders
Organizers of BMAQ’s Ramadan charity campaign emphasized that this year’s initiative goes beyond food assistance to support Jerusalem’s local economy, in line with the Agency’s 2026 strategy prioritizing economic activity as a driver of development and stability.
Within this framework, the Agency has authorized 16 stores across more than 30 areas in the Jerusalem governorate to serve beneficiaries, enabling families to shop nearby while supporting local merchants and helping them remain operational despite ongoing economic challenges.
The initiative also creates temporary jobs for Jerusalemite youth in organizing, distributing, and managing the logistics of the program during Ramadan, further boosting its economic and social impact on the local community.
Preserving Dignity and Strengthening Resilience
BMAQ’s Ramadan charity campaign reflects the Agency’s commitment to translating solidarity into tangible social action that directly addresses people’s needs, while placing the preservation of beneficiaries’ dignity at the core of efforts to sustain the resilience of Jerusalem’s residents.
Echarkaoui stressed that the initiative not only provides food aid but also strengthens Jerusalemite families’ social and economic stability, stimulates local commerce, and generates temporary jobs for youth.
Jerusalemite Praise for the Initiative
In this context, Louay Al-Husseini, Director General of the Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jerusalem, expressed his gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, for his ongoing support of the Committee’s work and initiatives that bolster the resilience of Jerusalem’s residents.
Al-Husseini also commended BMAQ’s efforts, highlighting its sustained collaboration with Jerusalemite institutions and its role in promoting national identity while strengthening the resilience of the city’s residents.
He emphasized that the Agency’s programs enhance Jerusalemite families’ living conditions, boost local commerce, and create job opportunities, expressing hope that these efforts will align with other local institutions to gradually shift from relief initiatives toward sustainable development.
