Maldives sends zakat-funded food aid to Palestinian families in Gaza
Maldives allocates Fitr zakat funds for Gaza relief, delivering food aid to Palestinian families amid worsening humanitarian crisis
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives has delivered food assistance to families in Gaza using Islamic charity funds, as the Indian Ocean nation joins growing global humanitarian efforts responding to the worsening crisis in the Palestinian territory.
The Maldives Zakat House, in collaboration with ISRA Association, a Maldivian civil society group focused on Palestinian humanitarian relief, allocated $32,425 from this year’s Fitr zakat collections to prepare and distribute essential food packages for vulnerable families in Gaza, officials said earlier this week.
The aid packages included staple items such as flour, cooking oil and canned food, supplies that humanitarian groups say have become increasingly scarce amid ongoing Israeli military operations and restrictions affecting food access in Gaza.
ISRA Association Maldives, a civil society organization focused on Palestinian humanitarian support, coordinated the delivery and distribution of the food aid. The initiative reflects the Maldives’ continued diplomatic and humanitarian support for Palestinians, a position the country has maintained across successive governments.
Officials said the Gaza allocation formed part of a broader zakat distribution program during Ramadan, when Muslims worldwide donate charity to support vulnerable communities. According to the Maldives Zakat House, the country collected more than $972,762 in Fitr zakat this year, the highest amount recorded in the past three years, reflecting increased public participation.
Authorities also distributed remaining funds domestically, providing approximately $389 per person to registered low-income individuals in the Maldives during Ramadan. The distribution marked a record level of per-person support compared with previous years, officials said.
The Maldives, a Muslim-majority nation of about half a million people, has repeatedly expressed political and humanitarian support for Palestinians. The country has previously announced donations, advocacy initiatives and diplomatic positions backing humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that Gaza faces severe shortages of food, medicine and essential supplies following months of conflict and restrictions on aid delivery. International organizations continue to call for expanded humanitarian access to prevent worsening famine conditions and humanitarian collapse.
For Maldivian officials, the zakat-funded initiative represents both humanitarian assistance and religious solidarity, using charitable donations collected during Ramadan to support communities affected by conflict beyond the country’s borders.
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