Morocco-Backed Agency Commits $4.2M to Jerusalem Development Programs in 2024

Thursday 26 December 2024 - 17:00

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco-Backed Agency Commits $4.2M to Jerusalem Development Programs in 2024

The Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency (BMAQ) has allocated over $4.2 million to social and economic development projects in Jerusalem throughout 2024, according to the organization's annual report unveiled Wednesday in Rabat. The agency serves as the executive branch of the Al-Quds Committee, under the chairmanship of King Mohammed VI.

The report details a comprehensive distribution of funds across multiple sectors, with social assistance programs receiving the largest share at 31% of the total budget. Arts, heritage, and cultural industries followed at 19%, while childhood, youth, and sports initiatives claimed 18%. The agency's innovation project incubator channeled 14% of funds toward supporting emerging Palestinian enterprises.

Additional allocations included 5% for education, 4% for human development projects, and 1% for health prevention and medication programs. Notably, the agency dedicated a special budget of approximately $400,000 - representing 9% of its annual achievements - to bolster Gaza's educational system as part of Morocco's humanitarian response to the conflict.

Al-Azhar University of Gaza emerged as a key beneficiary, with funding supporting 318 scholarships at its Hassan II Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The support package included provisions for 40 graduating students, implementation of two cloud servers for data backup, and the establishment of a distance-learning platform. Eight Gaza-based students also received scholarships to attend the Hassan II Institute of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in Rabat.

During Ramadan 1446, the agency conducted extensive humanitarian operations initiated by King Mohammed VI, providing direct assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and Jerusalem. The initiative distributed 2,200 food baskets to approximately 3,000 families and supplied 30,000 meals - averaging 1,000 daily - to beneficiaries at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Old City, and various community centers. The aid reached residents in the Shuafat and Qalandia camps, as well as neighboring villages including Al-Issawiya and Nabi Samuel.

BMAQ's strategic decisions are informed by the "Arribat" Observatory, established in 2021. Throughout 2024, the observatory published 17 reports examining crucial issues affecting the region, including conditions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, mobility restrictions, and the psychological impact of regional conflicts on Palestinian residents.

Despite these interventions, the observatory's economic and social indicators for 2024 remain troubling, showing little improvement from 2023. The Palestinian population continues to face significant challenges, including elevated living costs, high unemployment rates, widespread poverty, and increasing despondency among young Palestinians.