Abu Dhabi: A three-day donation campaign was launched on Thursday night by the Emirates Foundation through its Takatof programme to collect relief material for people suffering under the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
Those who wish to make donations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai can contribute money or send clothes, medicine, or any other items that could benefit those in need in Gaza.
The campaign is aimed at supporting Gaza’s traumatised civilian population through in-kind donations and financial contributions. The event attracted hundreds of volunteers and their families, besides members of the senior management of Emirates Foundation.
Donations collected were handed over to a representative from the Emirates Red Crescent Authority for distribution.
“The purpose of this event is to show our support and compassion for what is happening in Gaza, this is something nobody can ignore, and the UAE community is very aware of what is happening over there,” said Maytha Al Habsi, Chief Programmes Officer for Emirates Foundation, and director of the fundraising drive.
The campaign ends on Saturday night.
“This is an opportunity for our youth to show and express their support ,” Maytha said, adding “and so we thought that this event was an ideal opportunity for them to show their support and to express their feelings about what is happening.”
She explained how the donations would be delivered to the Gaza Strip. “We are receiving clothes, food, and monetary donations through the Red Crescent. Through this partnership with the Red Crescent, we will ensure that all donations and all monetary donations go directly to the people in Gaza; the Red Crescent will be in charge for delivering the aid making sure it reaches the people.”
She urged all members of the public to help in whatever way they could. “Any help is beneficial, the more the better, I am sure anything we can do will help them — even if it was a little contribution, it would be mean something.”
The latest donation campaign by the Emirates Foundation in association with the Red Crescent is just one in a long history of UAE charitable efforts to support the Palestinians.
“I feel we are an extension to a legacy of giving support to our brothers and sisters in Gaza; our country [UAE] has always been amongst the first to support Gaza during difficult times,” she said.
The foundation itself has a database of 40,000 members who have been encouraged to help and donate.
Members of the public who wish to donate through the Emirates Foundation can do so by visiting the Takatof offices in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE Government has pledged $25 million (Dh91.80 million) in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also recently ordered an increase in aid to the Gaza Strip by ordering an additional Boeing 747 to be added to the Dubai International Humanitarian transport, which is part of the Gaza air bridge.
The air bridge has so far delivered over Dh5 million in food and relief aid to the Gaza Strip.
Log on to www.takatof.ae to learn more about the donation campaign.
— Sami Zaatari is a trainee at Gulf News
