Almost 15,000 low-income Emiratis and expatriates across the country received Dh73.35 million in aid from Dar Al Ber Society last year.
The aid to 14,899 individuals, was distributed in several ways – Dh16.5m was given as house rent for 2,662 low-income families, while Dh4.4m was spent as study allowances for 556 university students and Dh16.8m for 3,308 school students.
The zakat and social services department also paid Dh10.4m to 1,371 patients in need, said Abdullah Ali bin Zayed, the charity’s executive director.
Air-conditioners and refrigerators worth Dh724,025 were distributed to 190 families of different nationalities.
Mohamed Suhail Al Muhairi, head of the social services sector at Dar Al Ber, said they also donated in-kind items to 15,765 needy individuals and families last year.
There were 322,770 free meals distributed to low-income people. Defaulters, scientific researchers and preachers received assistance, while financially burdened residents received free air tickets home.
Dar Al Ber also paid out diya, or blood money, in several cases. These were apart from new Muslims’ allowances, Haj and Umrah, school supplies, electricity bills, Eid clothes, and general expenses.
School fees topped the list of allowances, accounting for 24 per cent of Dar Al Ber’s local expenditure last year. Donations to low-income families came second at 23 per cent, general expenses at 18 per cent, followed by other allowances for medical treatment, defaulters, and kafarat, or expiation.
Each week, The National’s Helping Hands series features a case of a family or individual in desperate straits and the work of Dar Al Ber Society in trying to assist them.

Source: The National