Over 330,000 receive social assistance in four months

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

More than 330,000 people in Bahrain received social assistance between May and August 2024, according to figures released by the Ministry of Social Development. The support provided ranged from financial aid to meat subsidies, benefiting a wide cross-section of the population.

The data shows that 133,173 individuals received direct financial assistance, while 17,694 people relied on social security payments. In addition, meat subsidies reached 185,807 individuals, and 19 fire victims were compensated for their losses.

The Ministry also highlighted the role of civil society organizations, noting that 675 registered groups had received support. It issued 100 financial permits, including 53 for fundraising, 22 for receiving funds from abroad, and 25 for sending money overseas. Additionally, civil society organizations turned to the Ministry for 250 consultations, covering financial, legal, and technical advice.

To strengthen local charities, the Ministry organized nine training sessions, benefiting 215 organizations and 336 members. Officials also conducted 16 monitoring visits and 10 institutional evaluations to ensure adherence to standards.

The Ministry further emphasized its support for the elderly, with 2,013 seniors attending programs at 13 day clubs, while 26 individuals were housed in a dedicated shelter. Seniors also had access to 190 discounted public and private services across 61 institutions, and 41 requests for assistive devices were processed.

Social centres hosted 89 awareness sessions, attended by 3,824 people, and in-depth social research helped 75 families facing specific challenges.