JERUSALEM, September 13, 2009 (WAFA)- Almost all Palestinian townships and refugee camps were covered in the Iftar distribution programme organised by the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) at the behest of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Iftar programme dubbed as the 'Table-spread of the Merciful' were also hosted at the Al Aqsa Mosque and various neighbourhoods in the Gaza Strip.

Iftar is the breakfast meal taken after sunset by those who fast during daytime in the holy month of Ramadan.

The RCA had earmarked over AED 8 million for this charity operation, which was followed up by the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern region and the Chairman of the RCA Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Chairman of the board of directors of RCA Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui said that Sheikh Hamdan had made a generous contribution to serve a hot meal for hundreds of people, young and old, men and women in Prophet Ibrahim Takiya in the West Bank city of Al-Khalil. This month-long programme itself cost over AED one million, said Al Mazroui.

Over half a million Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza have benefited from the RCA supply operations during the month of Ramadan.  In the Alaqsa yard, over a thousand meals is distributed every day through out the month.

RCA has also begun to distribute garments and Zakat-el Fitr, (charity money to mark the fulfillment of Ramadan) in preparation for welcoming the Eid.