Within the Islamic Development Bank Groups numerous initiatives to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and to contain its effects, the IsDB-managed Saudi Project For the Utilization of Hady and Adahi is taking part in the "Biran Bi Makkah" campaign launched by Prince Khalid Al Faisal, advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and governor of the Makkah Region, to support needy families and field workers affected by the curfew declared because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Bandar Bin Muhammad Hamzah Hajjar, chairman of the IsDB Group and chairman of the Committee for Utilization of Hady and Adahi, said that the project allocated 15,000 carcases, i.e. 150,000 kg of meat to be distributed to families affected by the preemptive measures taken against the coronavirus pandemic in Makkah in collaboration with charitable associations, neighborhood centers' associations, and charitable waqfs. The meat is handed directly to the eligible families and added to food baskets. Moreover, meat is given to charitable waqfs which distribute more than 2000 cooked meals a day to the neediest families. "Meat distribution will be maintained throughout the coming days to ease the pressure of the exceptional circumstances caused by the pandemic which disrupted the normal course of life all around the world," Dr. Hajjar said. The meat is stored in very large refrigerators made available by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. They can accommodate more than one million carcases in safe and healthy packaging. The carcases go through a long process which includes an examination to ensure the safety of the meat given to beneficiaries. More than 22 million carcases have been distributed around the world since the project was launched. — SG
