It has been a year since our last update on the assistance provided to families arriving from Gaza. The reality of the situation has, no doubt, far surpassed what any of us might have anticipated.
While we initially budgeted to support 860 individuals, you may be aware that 2,300 visas have been granted. Over 1,100 displaced individuals have already arrived in Australia, with more continuing to arrive each day.
By September 2024, the National Zakat Foundation had distributed $3,948,810.05 in Zakat and Sadaqah to assist 1,146 individuals displaced from Gaza who have arrived in Australia. This support has been crucial in helping these families navigate their new reality and begin rebuilding their lives here. JazaakAllah Khair for your trust and support.
Through your donations, we have assisted our brothers and sisters from Gaza in the following ways:
One-off Settlement Assistance Payments: Covering essential needs upon immediate arrival, ensuring families have access to food, clothing, and basic necessities.
Ongoing Monthly Financial Support: Providing six months of financial assistance to help families cover living expenses as they settle into their new environment. We aim to extend this support for another six months.
Critical Aid for the Settlement Phase: Helping families heal from trauma and integrate into the wider Australian community by addressing immediate needs and emotional well-being through collaboration with our partners.
We are at a point where we know we cannot stop our assistance, as the families are still in need of help. We urgently need to raise an additional $3.1 million by 31 January 2025 to sustain and extend our support to the 1,146 individuals already in Australia for another six months.
Details of how this will help are outlined below:
$200,000: To support individuals still on the initial six-month program.
$2.9 million: To extend support for the next six months, excluding settlement aid.
The role of Zakat locally:
The importance of Zakat in Australia cannot be overstated. Beyond being a lifeline for people like our Palestinian brothers and sisters here, it is through Zakat that we fulfil our obligation locally. Zakat has been prescribed for us to take from the wealthy in our community here in Australia and distribute to those in need, right here.
Not many Muslims are aware of this local obligation, and this is our chance to demonstrate the strength of our unity and the power of Zakat in transforming lives here in Australia. Let us renew our commitment to paying Zakat locally and extending our unwavering support to our Palestinian brothers and sisters.
Every dollar paid brings us closer to giving them a future filled with hope and opportunity.
These figures were last updated on 19 November 2024.
Download our full Impact Report here.
Learn more about our Gaza Assistance Program here.
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