JEDDAH, 27 September 2007 -- The Makkah Governorate has approved a plan to distribute Zakat Al-Fitr in an organized way in the holy city. The plan aims to distribute 1,000 tons of rice among more than 20,000 poor families.

The project will be carried out by the Charitable Warehouse in Makkah, which has already won applause for supplying a million iftar meals to pilgrims in the Grand Mosque with the help of 300 orphans.

"We will set up more than 100 centers for the collection and distribution of Zakat Al-Fitr," said Saud Al-Flait, director of the project. "We have completed all preparations to implement the project," he added.

The charity has appointed a number of qualified Saudi workers to carry out the project in the proper way. The charity's Jeddah branch successfully implemented a similar project last year. Both Saudis and expatriates welcomed the project, saying it was essential for money to reach deserving people.

For the past several years, Zakat Al-Fitr in most parts of the Kingdom is distributed in a haphazard manner without serving the purpose set by Islam. On the last day of Ramadan, people purchase bags of rice from street vendors and give them to people posing as poor who sell the rice back to the vendors.

Zakat Al-Fitr is a small amount that Muslims are obliged to pay as charity at the end of Ramadan. Its main purpose is to the poor with the means to celebrate the festival of breaking the fast, Eid Al-Fitr, along with the rest of the Muslims. It also provides believers an opportunity to make up for errors during the month of fasting.

The Charitable Warehouse in Makkah has been carrying out a number of programs to support poor families in the city. "From this year onward we want to distribute Zakat Al-Fitr in an organized manner," said Yahya Al-Kenani, director of the charity in Makkah. "Those who want to give Zakat Al-Fitr can visit our centers in different parts of Makkah," he said.

Referring to the distribution of iftar meals among pilgrims, he said: "We distribute about one million meals among pilgrims at the Grand Mosque and in parking areas around Makkah."

Kenani said some 400 young men are involved in the distribution of iftar meals in the Haram in a quick and organized manner. They also remove the leftovers after iftar to keep the Haram neat and tidy.

As many as 136 women have been appointed to distribute iftar among women worshippers. The charity has established a food factory in Makkah at a cost of SR150,000, Kenani said, adding that the factory, which is run by 90 orphans, produces about 50,000 meals daily.

© Arab News 2007