Emirates Red Crescent’s Eid Al Adha gift targets 55,000 families

A local charity is hoping to gift sacrificial animals to more than 55,000 families during Eid Al Adha.

ABU DHABI // The Emirates Red Crescent hopes to provide more than 55,000 families in 57 countries with sacrificial animals for Eid Al Adha.

The charity’s Their Joy Our Eid campaign will reach out to poor families across the globe when Eid begins, probably on October 4. ERC is asking for donations to help provide food for more than 18,500 families across the UAE as well as 34,300 families and 657 individuals in Europe, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

At least 16,700 animals are expected to be donated.

Rashid Al Mansouri, deputy secretary general of the ERC said that the exact figures were not yet known as donations were still coming in.

The ERC has fixed the donation price for one sheep at Dh540 if donated for UAE beneficiaries or Dh400 if abroad.

Mr Al Mansouri said one sheep was enough to feed a family of five.

As part of the campaign, the ERC will also pay for 50 poor people to perform the Haj.

“Saudi authorities reduced the number of pilgrims this year due to ongoing maintenance work in Mecca. Whereas in the past more than 200 would have travelled for Hajj through the ERC,” Mr Al Mansouri said.

The ERC is also continuing its campaign to provide clothing and food to those displaced by conflict in the region. “Our efforts are ongoing for the Palestinian and Syrian refugees and we would continue in similar fashion during Eid Al Adha too.”

Donations can be made by texting Dh10, Dh50, Dh100 and Dh200 to 4010, 7050, 7100 and 7200 respectively for Etisalat users; and for du subscribers at 7110, 7150, 7100 and 7200.