IICO Operates 25 Bakeries in Gaza in Partnership with WFP

The InternationalIslamic Charity Organization announced the implementation of a relief project to operate and support 25 bakeries in the Gaza Strip in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme. The initiative comes as part of the Organization’s efforts to ease the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Strip since October 2023, marked by deteriorating food security due to the blockade, damaged infrastructure, and shortages of fuel and essential supplies.

Free Bread for Displaced Families

In a press statement, the Organization said the project aims to provide free bread, one of the most vital food needs for affected and displaced families. With many bakeries shut down, flour shortages, and soaring prices beyond residents’ means, obtaining bread has become a daily challenge for thousands of families.

Supplies and Distribution

The project includes the provision of around 190 tons of wheat flour and essential production materials to operate the bakeries for a full month. This ensures the daily and regular distribution of bread to 19,019 displaced people across different areas of the Strip.

Project Costs and Efficiency

The Organization stated that the total cost of the project amounts to 184,570 Kuwaiti dinars (about 602,000 US dollars). It noted that 305 dinars (990 dollars) are sufficient to provide bread for about 1,000 people, reflecting the project’s efficiency in turning donations into direct humanitarian impact.

Number of Beneficiaries

The total number of beneficiaries is estimated at around 570,570 people. The Organization emphasized that the project goes beyond food provision, contributing to reducing malnutrition, easing pressure on the health sector, and offering a measure of stability to families living under dire humanitarian conditions.

Humanitarian Response and Appeal

The Organization affirmed that supporting bakery operations in Gaza represents an urgent humanitarian response to save lives, preserve human dignity, and strengthen the resilience of affected families amid ongoing challenges. It called on benefactors and donors to continue supporting its relief projects directed toward the Strip.

Decades of Humanitarian Work in Palestine

The Organization highlighted that it has been implementing humanitarian and development projects in Palestine for more than four decades, driven by its mission to uphold the values of human solidarity and its commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and alleviating their suffering under all circumstances.