Humanitarian Initiative in Beitunia with the Participation of the Minister of Social Development and the Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh
Ramallah – The Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamd, participated alongside the Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Dr. Laila Ghannam, in a meeting hosted by the Beitunia Municipality to discuss mechanisms for supporting and sustaining the work of Beitunia Al-Khair Kitchen throughout the year. The meeting was attended by the Mayor of Beitunia, Mr. Mohammed Al-Taher, and several partner and supporting institutions.
The meeting also included representatives from the Ministry of Social Development, including Assistant Undersecretary Mr. Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Director General of the Poverty Reduction Department Dr. Hanadi Brahameh, and representatives of the Ramallah Directorate of Social Development. Participants also included the Chairman of the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Zakat Committee and Head of the Kitchen, Mr. Rabiha Dawla, Mr. Khaled Hantouli, Head of the “What You Have Left” Foundation, Mr. Mohammed Khader, representative of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, and businessmen Mr. Hossam Al-Treify and Mr. Ma’n Hammouda from Dar Al-Shifa Company, as well as members of the municipal council.
During the meeting, Dr. Samah Hamd emphasized that Beitunia Al-Khair Kitchen represents a model of humanitarian and social work based on partnership between official and community institutions. She pointed out that the difficult economic conditions and the occupation’s seizure of Palestinian funds have exacerbated the suffering of poor families, which calls for doubling national and supportive efforts to ensure the continuity of initiatives that serve needy families and patients coming from the Gaza Strip. She also expressed appreciation for all benevolent efforts and institutions supporting vulnerable families, reaffirming the Ministry’s full support for the kitchen’s work and its humanitarian mission.
For her part, Governor Dr. Laila Ghannam stressed the importance of strengthening social solidarity through partnerships between municipalities and civil society institutions. She commended the humanitarian role of Beitunia Al-Khair Kitchen in assisting the most vulnerable families, particularly patients from the Gaza Strip residing in hotels across the governorate, affirming that the people of the West Bank will remain a steadfast source of support for their brothers and sisters in Gaza.
Following the meeting, participants took part in a field tour to observe the kitchen’s operations in preparing and distributing daily hot meals to deserving families in Beitunia and neighboring villages, as well as to patients from Gaza.
Mr. Rabiha Dawla, Head of the Kitchen, presented an overview of its activities, noting that its work extends beyond providing hot meals to include distributing medicines, supplying basic household necessities to families in need, and covering tuition fees for university students.
