Saudi initiative begins campaign targeting Ramadan food waste

Volunteers gather to prepare for distribution of food to needy people for iftar and sahoor during Ramadan.
Updated 30 May 2017
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Saudi initiative begins campaign targeting Ramadan food waste

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Etaam initiative has launched a program that aims to discourage food waste during Ramadan.
The campaign, launched in malls under the title “no extravagance in Ramadan,” hopes to encourage families to preserve food.
According to an EcoMENA report, a conservative estimate of around 15 to 25 percent of all food purchased or prepared during Ramadan finds its way to the garbage bin instead of being consumed.
Etaam, the Riyadh-based food bank initiative, said it has extended its projects to encourage food saving and the distribution of leftovers, especially during Ramadan.
Amer bin Abdul Rahman Al-Barjas, executive director of Etaam, said the program encourages food preservation at Ramadan tents, hotels and restaurants.
He said a large number of Saudi volunteers want to work with the association during the month of Ramadan in the field of food preservation, packaging and distribution of iftar and sahoor meals for beneficiaries.


Saudi Arabia condemns blast that hit mosque in Alawite area of Syria’s Homs

A view shows the interior of a damaged mosque after several people were killed in explosion at a mosque of the Alawite minority.
Updated 5 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia condemns blast that hit mosque in Alawite area of Syria’s Homs

  • Homs’s press office said an explosive device had detonated inside the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque and that security forces had cordoned off the area

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned an explosion at a mosque of the ​Alawite minority sect in the Syrian city of Homs on Friday that killed eight people.

The city’s press office said an explosive device had detonated inside the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque and that security forces had cordoned off the area.

Syrian news agency SANA ‌cited health ‌ministry official Najib Al-Naasan as saying ‌18 others ​were ‌wounded and that the figures were not final, indicating they could rise.

Extremist Syrian group Saraya Ansar Al-Sunnah said on its Telegram channels that it carried out the attack. The group previously claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Damascus church in June that killed 20 people.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “The Kingdom affirms its categorical rejection of terrorism, extremism, targeting of mosques and places of worship, and terrorizing innocent people. It expresses its solidarity with Syria in this great tragedy, and its support for the Syrian government’s efforts to establish security and stability.”

The statement extended the Kingdom’s condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Syria. It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.