NEW YORK: New York City will serve half-million Halal meals during the holy of Ramazan, as part of a program that could feed as many as two million residents unable to pay for food, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
About 400,000 Halal meals will be distributed at 32 Department of Education buildings and another 100,000 will be served through community organisations during the month.
This is part of a program that has served at least 10 million grab-and-go meals at 435 sites and via taxi to housebound New Yorkers, at a cost of at least $170 million, the mayor said.
“One of Ramazan’s most noble callings is to feed the hungry,” de Blasio said during a news briefing. “To remember to be there for those in need. And that is now harder than ever now that people can’t go to their mosques.”
City officials expect the food crisis to become more acute. The mayor has estimated the city will lose at least 475,000 jobs due to the lockdown forced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
De Blasio said city officials expect to provide at least 10 million meals this month and are prepared to serve 15 million in May, but came no cost estimate. “No New Yorker will go hungry,” he vowed. “Your city will provide.”
More than 22 percent of American Muslims living in New York City but the public health crisis has upended the holy month. During Ramazan, mosques open their doors and provide meals to feed the less fortunate, but this year, those communities are in need of help.
As part of ongoing efforts to support New Yorkers during the pandemic, the city will increase the supply and distribution of halal meals at 32 sites across all five boroughs where there are large Muslim populations. More than 400,000 halal meals will be available at 435 school sites where all New Yorkers can go for food.
Another 100,000 halal meals will be distributed through soup kitchens, food pantries and community organisations. City officials plan to serve 10 million free meals to all New Yorkers in April and another 15 million in May, as De Blasio estimates that nearly 2 million people could go hungry because of the virus.
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