One million iftar meals distributed at Grand Mosque during first third of Ramadan

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Workers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah prepare iftar spreads for visitors before sunset. (SPA)
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Workers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah prepare iftar spreads for visitors before sunset. (SPA)
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Workers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah prepare iftar spreads for visitors before sunset. (SPA)
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Updated 12 April 2022
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One million iftar meals distributed at Grand Mosque during first third of Ramadan

  • 8,000 workers distribute the meals daily and they consist of water, dates, juice, cake, and a pastry
  • Al-Kiyadi added that 10,000 spreads, each 12 meters long, were laid in the courtyards of the mosque

RIYADH: One million iftar meals were distributed to visitors at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during the first third of Ramadan.

A number of charitable organizations and several government agencies came together to provide the meals, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The head of the courtyard department at the Grand Mosque, Musa bin Muhammad Al-Kiyadi, explained that 100 workers were employed to supervise iftar spreads in the courtyards of the mosque.

8,000 workers distribute the meals daily and they consist of water, dates, juice, cake, and a pastry.

Al-Kiyadi added that 10,000 spreads, each 12 meters long, were laid in the courtyards of the mosque.

Around 67 charitable organisations were involved in providing the meals and that the spreads were laid in coordination with the security authorities, taking into account pathways and their capacity in terms of pedestrian traffic, service vehicles, and mobility scooters.


Saudi Arabia, UAE and allies condemn Gaza ceasefire violations

Updated 34 min 59 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia, UAE and allies condemn Gaza ceasefire violations

  • They joined Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, who on Saturday also condemned ongoing violations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday led renewed regional condemnation of Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, which have resulted in the killing and wounding of more than 1,000 Palestinians.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Kingdom, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkiye said the breaches represented a dangerous escalation that risked inflaming tensions and undermining efforts to restore calm and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They joined Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, who on Saturday condemned what they described as ongoing ceasefire violations and warned they threatened de-escalation efforts and regional stability.

The ministers said the latest developments come at a critical moment, as regional and international efforts intensify to advance the second phase of the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump and implement UN Security Council Resolution 2803, SPA added.

They warned that the repeated violations pose a direct threat to the political process and could derail attempts to create the conditions for a more stable phase in Gaza, both in security and humanitarian terms. They stressed the need for full adherence to the ceasefire to ensure the success of the next phase of the peace plan.

The statement called on all parties to assume their responsibilities during this sensitive period, exercise maximum restraint, sustain the ceasefire, and avoid any actions that could undermine current diplomatic efforts. It also urged steps to facilitate early recovery and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

Reaffirming their commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, the ministers said this must be based on the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state, in line with international law, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.