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CAIRO, EGYPT January 3, 2024 – Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, recently sent a delegation of U.S.-based activists to Egypt to visit Palestinian patients evacuated from Gaza and to help prepare Baitulmaal’s second humanitarian aid convoy headed to Gaza.
Author and activist Linda Sarsour, civil rights leader Zahra Billoo, and entrepreneur Suzie Othman traveled with Baitulmaal digital communications manager Nida Kazi to Cairo, Egypt. While in Cairo, the group visited Palestinians injured by the violence in Gaza who are now recovering in Palestine Red Crescent Society Hospital located in Egypt.
The delegation also helped load a total of ten trucks before the convoy made its way to the queue at the Rafah border crossing:
- Four trucks contained 120 tons of freshly ground wheat flour.
- Three trucks contained 2,700 hygiene kits that include items such as soap, wipes, sanitizer, towels, tissues, dental care items, deodorant, women’s sanitary napkins, undergarments, and winter gloves and scarves.
- Three trucks contained 2,160 food packages that include items such as rice, oil, beans, pasta, milk, cheese, dates, lentils, hummus, coffee, yeast and salt.
“We came to bear witness to humanitarian aid efforts that are underway for the people of Palestine,” Kazi said. “We had the opportunity to pack each item intended for our Palestinian brothers and sisters with love and care, and spoke with injured Palestinians to comfort them and let them know that we will continue our humanitarian efforts to aid the people of Gaza.”
Since October 7, Israeli forces have killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, injured more than 57,000, and displaced more than 1 million residents according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israel also imposed a blockade on food, water, fuel and electricity from entering Gaza. Prior to October 7, Gaza relied on more than 500 humanitarian aid trucks per day to meet the needs of the population. Since then, only a fraction of aid trucks have been allowed in.
Baitulmaal’s first humanitarian aid convoy was dispatched a few weeks earlier. This will be the second aid convoy dispatched by Baitulmaal to Rafah crossing.
In addition to the successful entry of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza, Baitulmaal has been on the ground in Gaza providing food, shelter kits, hygiene supplies, clean water, psychosocial support and other emergency aid since October 7. Prior to October 7, Baitulmaal had been working in Palestine for more than a decade providing food, clothing, education support, seasonal giving, emergency aid and healthcare in Palestine, in addition to operating 400 water tanks in Gaza. Having staff and resources on the ground enables Baitulmaal to quickly mobilize emergency aid from existing stock within Gaza to families in need.
Baitulmaal continues to provide aid during the current crisis and will deliver more aid into Gaza as the situation allows. If you would like to learn more about or contribute to Baitulmaal’s efforts in Palestine, please visit their website at Baitulmaal.org.
Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Europe, Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.
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