GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — In the Gaza Strip, where 80% of the residents rely on humanitarian assistance to survive, various civil initiatives help the poor by providing them with food and medical treatment or writing off their debts. One of the initiatives that has been running for four years now is “Faker Bghayrak” ("Think of Others"), a youth initiative that provides food and medical treatment to the sick. A more recent campaign — “Sameh, Toujar” — encourages merchants to drop the debts of Gazans who cannot pay.
A recent campaign by the Abdallah Restaurant chain offers Gazans a free breakfast and dinner every day. The chain's three restaurants — in Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City; in Sabra neighborhood, central Gaza; and al-Zaytun neighborhood, south of Gaza City — are part of the initiative designed to feed 100 poor families daily.
“Ever since we started the campaign, many families that do not have the means to buy food have come to our restaurants for breakfast or dinner to be served beans, falafel and chickpeas. We only serve these two meals,” Atta, a waiter at the restaurant in Sabra, told Al-Monitor.
Some students who do not have money to buy sandwiches come to Abdallah Restaurant before school to get a falafel sandwich and a small salad. “Even before the campaign started we used to give children falafel sandwiches for free on their way to school in the morning. It only costs us two falafel balls and a loaf of bread. The children really appreciate it,” Atta added.
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