Palestine

Country Information

Founded: City-states, such as ancient Jericho, were established as far back as 4300BCE. Around 330AD the Byzantine Empire named the entire area Palestine.
Independence (from Isreali control): Ongoing struggle
Land Area: 6220 Square Kilometers per 1949 boundary recognition (roughly the same size as Delaware)
Climate: Mild winters with dry and warm to hot summers at the coast; warm to hot summers and cool winters near the Jordanian border.
Agricultural Land Usability: 45%
Natural Hazards: droughts
Environmental issues: little access to clean and usable water, natural resources diverted resulting in desertification and soil degradation with depleting of overall water resources

The People

Population: 3,889,249
Infant Mortality Rate: 34 deaths / 1000 births
Life Expectancy: 73 years
Major Diseases: no known common risk
Religions: 87% Muslim, 9% Jewish, 4% Christian
Literacy Rate: 92%
Unemployment rate: 31%
Population below the UN-established Poverty Line: 64%

Special Conditions

The United Nations recognizes 1,685,851 Palestinians as being internally displaced and in refugee status.

Palestine is classified as a completely occupied territory by The United Nations.

Identifying the Need

Occupation of Palestine has resulted in massive losses in income. Above figures for poverty and unemployment are averages from various NGOs and official agencies of the United States and United Nations as no two sources seem to agree. What all can agree on however is that occupation has crippled the economy and free trade.

There is chronic malnutrition among Palestinian children and the quality of education has plummeted in recent years.

For the entirety of our organization’s establishment we have been aiding the people of Palestine. Our focus has been on Orphan sponsorship, educational support and emergency food aid.

We wish to remind our donors that all our operations are in full compliance with US government guidelines for Charitable Organizations, that we are in full communication with the US State Department and that we are signatories of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent code of ethics.

Ramadan Programs

From the very beginning of our operations we have distributed food and arranged Iftar meals in the Holy Land for anyone who is of need. Our Ramadan programs are welcomed by beneficiary and donors alike as the beneficiaries receive complete warm meals that may have been impossible to receive otherwise and our donors receive the full blessings of helping those in need during the holiest of months.

Udhiya / Qurbani distribution

Since 2002 we have been able to organize and implement a great distribution of meats to Palestinians in need on the Eid al-Adha. We purchase as many local rams as possible to help Palestinian economy and perform the Zabiha slaughter and distribution of meat in a very wonderful and clean environment.

Backpack distribution

From the beginning of our backpack program in 2004 we have been distributing these much needed school supplies to orphans and deserving children across Palestine.

These tools of education are necessary for kids to get the most out of their learning experience. The Zakat Foundation maintains that education is a human right, not a privilege.

Orphan Sponsorship

As the occupation continues, so does the number of Palestinian orphans. We rely heavily on the contributions of our donors to care for these children. The education received is of the best quality available and the orphans are provided with all necessary tools for education and life.

Please visit our Orphan Sponsorship page to see more details about our orphans and how we care for them. Sponsor an Orphan today!

Emergency food distribution

There have been many times during the course of recent years when food supplies have been completely cut off to the Palestinian people. In order to respond to this, The Zakat Foundation and our local partners have been able to bring and distribute food to families throughout the West Bank region.