DUSHANBE, December 26, Asia-Plus - Chief department for religious affairs of the Ministry of Culture has allotted 8,000 somonis for providing humanitarian aid to organizations sponsored by the department. 

Nazira Dodkhudoyeva, a chief specialist with the department, this assistance is provided on occasion the New Year’s and Idi Qurbon holidays.  According to her, their department sponsors two orphanages in Dushanbe and a boarding school housing 200 children in Hissor, as well as hostel for 200 orphan girls studying at higher educational institutions by presidential quota. 

She added that a recent meeting of the department had also made a decision to appeal to Muslim and non-Muslim clerics and organizations to make charitable donations to the vulnerable sections of the population on the even of the holidays.