Beit Mal Al-Quds Agency: A continuous approach led by the King in the implementation of tangible projects to improve the living conditions of Palestinians

Under the personal guidance and supervision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Jerusalem Committee, the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency continues its work on the ground for the benefit of the Palestinian people in the city of Jerusalem and its efforts to fulfill its mission to protect Al-Quds Al-Sharif and supports the constancy of its stationed men.

The work methodology that guides the work of the Agency, the field arm of the Al-Quds Committee, which stems from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in the Holy City stems from a correct understanding of the rapid social changes that the city is witnessing on more than one level.

The agency follows the guidelines of the royal instructions of His Majesty the King, who directed its work to care for the social and economic conditions of the city, and care for its Palestinian residents stationed in their blessed land, by implementing projects that have a direct and tangible impact on them.

The efforts of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif agency are embodied in the protection of Arab and Islamic rights in the Holy City through the support and financing of programs and projects, especially in the social field. Such as health, education and housing, which have significantly contributed to the improvement of the lives of Palestinians, and the preservation of the religious and cultural heritage of the Holy City.

With funds from the Kingdom of Morocco, the Agency implements programs and projects of a developmental, social and cultural nature that support the persistence of Jerusalemites and establish their presence on their land.

In this regard, the value of the projects implemented by the Agency from its establishment until the end of June 2022 amounted to more than 64 million dollars, which enabled the provision of assistance (aid) to the Palestinian population and Palestinian institutions in the Holy City. , and the preservation of the Mubarek Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy places in the city, and the maintenance of its civil, religious, cultural and urban heritage.

Since 2011, the Kingdom of Morocco has remained the main contributor to the Agency’s budget with 100 percent of state contributions and more than 86 percent of contributions from institutions and individuals, amounting to the total cost of programs and projects approved by the Agency. Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif during the years 2021 and 2022 amounted to about 2.5 million dollars, distributed among the sectors of education, health, construction and social assistance, which coincides with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic and psychological effects on the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Despite limited funds, the Agency continues to implement a number of vital projects, following a social and humanitarian approach, which have a direct impact on the residents of Jerusalem, making the Agency a leader among institutions operating in Jerusalem. Since its establishment, it has financed several vital projects in the social, cultural, educational, health and housing fields, which had a direct and tangible impact on the lives of the population.

++ Vital projects in several areas that had a direct impact on the lives of the population.

And for the fiscal year 2022, the agency launched a number of social projects with a tangible humanitarian impact on beneficiaries, distributed in the fields of education, health, social assistance projects, culture, art, publishing, documentation, media and freedom of the press.

The agency adopted the methodology of direct support to the most needy groups by launching a financing package aimed at association projects within the “Citizens’ Initiatives for Human Development” program with an annual budget of no less than 400 thousand dollars, and a cultural and artistic revitalization program to support the activities of the main cultural centers in the city with with a budget of 120 thousand dollars. Then the budget for social assistance programs aimed at groups in need, and associations of persons with disabilities.

During this year, the Agency also supported the program of summer camps in Jerusalem and Morocco, which benefited more than 3,000 thousand children distributed in 13 associations, including camps organized for the first time in the library of the Mubarek Al-Aqsa Mosque, and a camp for Moroccan communities in Jerusalem.

Then, during September, the Agency launched a new package of projects worth one million US dollars, distributed in the sectors of health, education, culture and orphan care programs. Department of Education in the city.

These social projects with a human dimension come as part of the Agency’s continuation of its social programs and projects to support Jerusalem and its citizens, in implementation of the instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which instructs the Agency to focus on tangible projects that have an impact on the population.

The agency also, within its jurisdiction, does everything to protect the sanctity of the city, preserve its religious and civilizational status, preserve its legal status, and provide means for a decent life for its inhabitants, and engage in the path of consecration to the values ​​of coexistence in this holy city, embodying the spirit of the “Jerusalem Invitation”, signed by the Emir of the Faithful, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, with His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican, in Rabat on March 30, 2019.

Mr. Mohamed Salem Al-Sharqawi, the director assigned to lead the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, confirmed that the agency continues to carry out its duties in support of Jerusalem and Jerusalem thanks to the generous patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. , to the work of the Foundation, adding that His Majesty the King instructs at every opportunity to follow the paths of serving Jerusalem on the political and diplomatic level, and on the social level.

He added that the result of the work of the Agency in Jerusalem is still honorable, despite the limited funding, and “we feel this through the increasing requests from Jerusalem institutions, of different profiles, references and specializations, to ask for support, especially after some international bodies stopped providing assistance to the people of Jerusalem , and some are imposed. The other is for conditions that the Palestinians have rejected.”

Therefore, says Mr. Al-Sharqawi, “we are sometimes forced to adopt strict criteria to ensure the fair distribution of grants and to ensure that they reach those who deserve them in the best way, by selecting tangible projects that have an impact on people in the health sectors, education, reconstruction and renewal, culture, youth, sports and human development projects.” and social assistance programs.”

He expressed the hope that by creating a work plan for 2023, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of its establishment and the actual start of work, the Agency will be able to double the amount achieved, which currently does not exceed an average of 3.5 million dollars, noting that the agency has launched numerous implementation projects. With a vision of diversifying funding sources, it can start taking over, if the appropriate conditions are met.