Members of an Abuja based Islamic organisation, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society on Monday spent Christmas day at the Wasa IDP Camp in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory, where they shared food items to the people of the community.
The head of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society’s Food Bank who also doubled as the Coordinator of the outreach Programme, Malam Suleiman Farouk by the Society under which the outreach was done Alhaji Farouk Suleiman said they chose the long Christmas holiday for the outreach program so that they can share some love with people who are displaced from their environment by no fault of theirs.
He said the distribution of food items to IDP camps falls within the organization project of constantly supporting vulnerable people.
“We took advantage of this long holiday to spend time with people in the camp because we know that since they are not in their environment, living is tough for them. This is a challenge for most of us who have the wherewithal to provide for those who are struggling. A little love this season can make the difference for many of them”, he said.
Farouk said the team provided food packs to 300 families explained that each food pack contained items worth #4000.
“Initially we planned for 30 families bit then when my father saw what we were doing, he supported us and we escalated it to 300 families. Each pack contained 5kg rice, 1 litre of vegetable oil, 500 grams of salt, 25 seasoning,54 tubers of yams and 31 carton of noodles this is in addition to ear-rings for ladies “ he added.
Members of the community who thronged out expressed gratitude to the team for not discriminating along religious lines.
One of the community security vigilante men, Ibrahim Abdurahaman said the distribution was also orderly as more elderly women and pregnant women were given priority.
One of the women who gave her name simply as Rebecca said she was thrilled at the package she got.
He said the food bank which fed at least 1,500 people every day during the Muslim Ramadan fasting period also does not discriminate against non Muslims.
The Society through its zakat Fund disbursed earlier this year, Eight million Naira worth of items to empower the less privileged, including Christians.
