The Chabad Aid, a Jewish non-profit organisation based in Abuja in collaboration with the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has distributed food items to more than 500 Muslims and Christians in Abuja.
Rabbi Israel Uzzan told Voice of Nigeria that the partnership with Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society was part of its partnerships with various religious groups in which it was sharing 2,600 meals to the needy in commemoration of the Christian Easter celebration, the Jewish Passover and the Islamic month of Ramadan.
Speaking while coordinating the distribution of the food items, Mrs Habiba Ahmed, Director, Welfare and Endowment Foundation of Al-Habibiyyah, said the gesture was aimed at lessening the difficulties of the poor during the month of Ramadan.
“Today, as you have seen, we normally give aid to the less privileged, and we collaborate with any charitable organization that deems it fit and necessary to partner with us.
“We accept donations and then we do the distribution. We used to distribute Zakat in the Islamic months of Sha’aban annually, and during Ramadan, we have what call the food bank. We share raw and cook food daily”, she added.
“On Monday, April 17, we shared over 2,400 packs of food to the needy and the less privileged. Similarly, on Sunday, April 16, we shared fairly used clothes, a gas cooker, plates, bags and shoes. The minimum we can share today is 500, there is rice, semovita, salt, magic and vegetable oil and noddles.”
She called on all Muslims, especially the well to do to redouble efforts in assisting the poor and less privileged in society to reduce poverty in the country.
Also, Hajia Rafat Salami, a volunteer with the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, reaffirmed that the society over the years had been distributing food items to the less privileged in the Federal Capital Territory.
“So those who want to give out charity always look for us. The Jewish community of Nigeria looked for us, and they brought about 200 packs of food items that we are currently distributing. In addition to the 200 packs they brought, we have another 300 packs that we are going to distribute as you can see it outside.”
One of the beneficiaries, Franca Amana, said: “I am here because they are doing Easter sharing of food items and so I want to collect too that is why I follow the Muslims women to collect together with them.”
