RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has concluded the program of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for Ramadan Iftar (breaking fast) for the year 2020 in 18 countries around the world. The program was implemented by religious attaché offices at Saudi Embassies and Islamic centers under the ministry's supervision. The program was implemented, in cooperation with ministries of religious affairs and official charities in 100 different cities of these countries. As many as 74,605 food baskets were distributed, benefiting 1,106,000 fasting people in the holy month of Ramadan. This came after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman approved increasing funds allocated to the Iftar (Breaking-fast) Program to SR5 million for the year of 2020. Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for this annual custom to meet needs of Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan. He added that the program's implementation comes within the framework of continuing support of King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman's ongoing follow-up of the ministry's works and programs that serve Islamic works. The minister noted that in light of the world's preoccupation with coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continued to support, help and meet the needs of people around the world in implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The program was implemented in 18 countries including Djibouti, Malaysia, Philippines, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Uganda, South Africa, Argentina, Thailand, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Australia, Chad, Pakistan, Sudan, India, Senegal, Kenya and Indonesia. He also noted that the program included allocating a large number of meals to workers in security and health sectors confronting coronavirus pandemic, adding that the distributed food baskets included the countries that suffered from wars and famine. The minister also expressed his gratitude to Saudi ambassadors in these countries, the ministry's agency of Islamic affairs, directors of religious attaché offices and Islamic centers for their roles in implementing the program.
