*As per IRAS regulations, the donations are NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE as they are for foreign charitable purposes.
20 March – 26 March 2024
Ramadan Appeal for Gaza 2024
Permit No. 0025/2024
1,700000
30,035
13,000
152,000
Ramadan Appeal for Gaza 2024
The Rahmatan Lil Alamin (Blessings to all) Foundation (RLAF), in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), is organizing a fundraising appeal to provide aid in the form of health, relief and shelter for children and their families affected by the recent developments in Gaza.
Impact on Affected Children and their Families
The recent events in Gaza have resulted in tragic injuries, loss of innocent lives, and extensive damage to critical infrastructure. An estimated 1.7 million people, more than half of Gaza's entire population, have been displaced - half of them being children - resulting in acute shortages of safe areas and shelters. Significant casualties were also documented in Gaza, with tens of thousands of children reported injured.
Children in Gaza are facing the deadly effects of disease and malnutrition due to limited access to clean water, food, and sanitation. Since mid-October 2023, more than 152,000 cases of diarrhea have been reported, with over half of these affecting children. The scarcity of food remains a critical issue, with over 90 percent of children aged 6-23 months experiencing severe food poverty, having access to only two or fewer food groups per day. The lack of safe drinking water, along with insufficient water for cooking and hygiene, further exacerbates malnutrition. On average, households surveyed have access to less than one litre of safe water per person per day, underscoring the urgent need for assistance. Our hearts go out to the innocent casualties of this humanitarian crisis and their families.
Collection Period
For this reason, the RLAF is conducting an online fundraising appeal via multiple platforms starting Wednesday, 20 March 2024 to Tuesday, 26 March 2024 to support the urgent needs of survivors and affected communities. RLAF has received the permit to conduct the fundraising appeal from the Commissioner of Charities.
In addition, all mosques across Singapore will participate in this special appeal through donation boxes on Friday, 22 March 2024. Members of the community can contribute their donations via these boxes which will be marked ‘Ramadan Appeal for Gaza’.
All donations will be channeled through UNICEF which is actively operating on the ground to provide humanitarian aid to the victims and families. As per regulations by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), the donations are not tax-deductible as they are for "foreign charitable purposes''.
What Children
In Gaza Need Most
UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.
FAQs
Q1. Who is UNICEF and what does the organization do?
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund, working in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere.
One of the world’s largest providers of vaccines, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation. Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing life-saving help and hope to children and families.
UNICEF has been supporting Palestinian children in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since the early 1980’s. With staff in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, they work to fulfill children’s rights and provide them with critical services and care.
Q2. Will the funds reach Gaza?
Yes. Funding that is contributed to UNICEF is received through UNICEF’s own bank accounts and is channeled towards the implementation of UNICEF services in the Fields – in this case, to cover the UNICEF Gaza Field’s delivery of immediate humanitarian assistance in response to the current hostilities, which includes but is not limited to providing safe drinking water, treatment for severely malnourished children and medical supplies for children in hospitals and shelters, and other life-saving items.
For this RLAF Ramadan Appeal for Gaza Campaign, donations are directed into the areas of health, relief and shelter for children and their families affected by the recent developments in Gaza.
Q3. When is the period of donation?
The donation period will be held from Wednesday, 20 March 2024 to Tuesday, 26 March 2024.
Q4. Why can’t we donate to RLAF outside the period of donation?
It is because the permit that RLAF obtained from the Commissioner of Charities (CoC) is only applicable for the campaign date.
Q5.Why are we partnering with UNICEF instead of UNRWA?
The recent developments in Gaza are having a catastrophic impact on children and families. Children are dying at an alarming rate – thousands have been killed and thousands more injured. Around 1.7 million people in the Gaza Strip are estimated to have been internally displaced – half of them children. Their homes have been destroyed; their families torn apart.
Due to the above circumstances, RLAF will be collaborating with UNICEF to provide aid and support for children and their families affected by the developments in Gaza.
Source: https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support
Q6. What is the process to fundraise for this fundraising appeal?
In this fundraising appeal, we follow a meticulous process to ensure transparency and accountability with the donations received:
We firstly obtained the necessary permit from the Commissioner of Charities (CoC) to raise the fund.
After getting the permit, we would only then begin the fundraising appeal.
All monetary donations would then be carefully consolidated and recorded after the campaign period.
We would then commission an external auditor to certify the donations for the campaign to ensure all transactions are accurately and properly recorded. The report would be sent to the CoC.
After the audit, we would remit the funds to our sole trusted partner, UNICEF, who have been on the ground assisting the Palestinians.
UNICEF would then provide us with a comprehensive written report detailing the utilization of the funds.
We would conduct monitoring visits, where possible, to assess the impact of our relief efforts and ensure the funds reach the affected beneficiaries.
Q7. When will the funds reach Gaza?
The funds will be transferred immediately after all collections have been collated and accounted for. It is also subject to clearance from the CoC to ensure good governance and accountability.
Q8. How are the supplies distributed to the beneficiaries and are there any issues in doing so?
UNICEF’s primary focus is to ensure life-saving supplies reach children in need such as vaccines, winter clothes, blankets, hygiene kits, health kits, bottled water and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) supplies, RUTF (Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food) and other nutrition supplies. UNICEF’s measures to safeguard supplies include careful planning of supply movement and close coordination with services providers and implementing partners to ensure that supplies reach children as quickly as possible.
Despite the significant challenges of delivering aid in a war zone, the reasons to persist are more. UNICEF will continue to do everything we can to ensure our supplies reach children. An immediate humanitarian ceasefire would allow us, immediately, to get more relief into children’s hands.
Q9. What is the minimum amount for donations?
There is no minimum amount of donation except if you are to donate via Giving.sg which sets a $10 minimum amount.
Q10. Will receipts be issued for my donations?
Non tax-deductible receipts will be issued upon request via rlaf@rlafoundation.org.sg. As per IRAS regulation, these donations are not tax-deductible as they are donations for “foreign charitable purposes”.
Source: https://www.iras.gov.sg/IRASHome/Individuals/Foreigners/Working-out-your-taxes/Deductions-for-Individuals/Donations/
Q11. What will the donation be allocated for?
The donation will be allocated for health, relief and shelter for children and their families affected by the recent developments in Gaza.
Q12. Can our donations be considered as Zakat?
All contributions are not considered as Zakat but as donations.
Q13. I donated online but forgot to indicate “GAZA2024” under remarks. Will my online donation still be accepted for this fundraising campaign?
Yes. Your online donation will still be accepted for this fundraising campaign provided the donation is submitted during the stated fundraising period.
Q14. Does RLAF accept in-kind or item donations for this campaign?
We seek your understanding that RLAF does not accept in-kind or item donations for this campaign.
Q15. I have wrongly transferred and I would like to request for a refund.
For accountability and transparency, we seek your understanding that we will not be able to do a refund.