UAE | General
UAE students show solidarity for Palestinian plight
Fundraising and awareness campaigns held at universities across UAE.
- By Maysam Ali and Rania Moussly, Staff Reporters
- Published: 23:27 January 17, 2009
- Image Credit: Atiq-Ur-Rehman/Gulf News
- The Palestinian Cultural Club at the American University in Dubai holds a rally and candlelight vigil in support of the people of Gaza.
Dubai: The onslaught in Gaza prompted university students across the UAE to organise awareness and fundraising campaigns to show solidarity and support for the plight of the Palestinians.
Just days after the attack, Zayed University (ZU) organised a full-fledged campaign to raise awareness and funds. The event, Return Life to Gaza, attracted 400 visitors.
It began with speeches of solidarity delivered by students and featured photographs of murdered Palestinian civilians, and a market stall selling jewellery, Palestinian flags, kaffiyahs and souvenirs.
Thirty five per cent of proceeds were sent along with the collections from the Red Crescent boxes to the victims in Gaza.
Fatima Al Madani, 19, a second year student at ZU, said most students had a general idea of the struggle in Gaza but could not visualise the extent of the full situation.
"After the event we were inundated by thanks from students, grateful to us for holding such an event that cultivated their knowledge and concern for the devastating situation."
The Palestinian Cultural Club (PCC) at the American University of Sharjah organised a fundraising campaign in conjunction with the Red Crescent. Red Crescent money boxes as well as boxes for donating supplies were placed on campus.
Mohammad Afana, 22, PCC President, said: "What is happening in Gaza is outrageous and unacceptable. There is no justifiable reason for killing women and children and attacking everyone and everything inside Gaza under false accusations."
Dubai Women's College (DWC) also circulated an e-mail to their students urging them to donate supplies and funds.
Asma Al Bannai, DWC senior IT student, said the students had started their activities before the alert.
"Seventeen of us were having a discussion about the situation and what we could do to help. When we received the e-mail, we all gave what we could."
At the American University in Dubai, Elyas Bou Sa'ab, Executive Vice-President, participated in a rally organised by the university's Palestinian Cultural Club. He told Gulf News: "Through this rally we are sending a message of unity, declaring that nobody can stand by and watch the massacre of a civilian population."
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