You can help Syrian refugees with just Dh100

Dubai: For the price of just four Dh25 calling cards, you can contribute to keeping Syrian refugees from freezing to death in Snowstorm Huda.

The strongest snowstorm to hit the Levant this year has made life in refugee camps even more miserable for people living in makeshift tents.

The ‘UAE Compassion’ (Tarahamu) campaign aims to alleviate their suffering by sending immediate aid through charity groups in line with the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Aid agencies are calling on residents to help.

“We would love them to contribute to the Tarahamu campaign. We would appreciate if they donate money in order for us and other organisations within the taskforce that was formed on Tuesday to respond at the earliest,” Shaima Al Zarouni, CEO of the International Humanitarian City, told Gulf News.

Both etisalat and du users can send a blank SMS to 7100 and 7200 to donate Dh100 and Dh200 respectively. Corporate donations can also be made and addressed to Emirates Red Crescent.

Some government institutions, foundations, and some private companies heeded the call on Wednesday.

By last count on Wednesday, according to WAM, around a dozen large donors donated Dh19.3 million.

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority donated Dh1 million.

The Dubai Islamic Bank Foundation donated Dh10 million while the Sharjah Charity Association gave Dh500,000.

LuLu Group pledged Dh1 million and Pure Gold Jewellers donated Dh600,000 to the cause.

The Ministry of Labour called on its employees and visitors to collect relief material as well as cash donations.

An official overseeing the campaign said donations can also be made on Friday through a telethon that will be organised by Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV, and other TV stations in the country.

“They will join the broadcast between 2pm and 6pm and they will be airing programmes and receiving calls from all over the country who can pledge their support and donate also,” the official said.

The UAE’s first batch of aid arrived early on Wednesday with 30,000 high thermal blankets to keep refugees warm. More aid is expected to be sent in the next few days.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has also joined the UAE’s call to increase support for the Syrian refugees, Laure Chadroui, WFP spokesperson, told Gulf News.

“As a UN food agency, we have regular support to vulnerable refugees using electronic food vouchers, which gives them undisrupted assistance and allows them to buy food and even stock them on emergencies.”

The e-vouchers act like debit cards that enable refugees outside Syria to buy food directly from local stores. But they have to be loaded with cash before they can be used, which requires help from donors like you.

“To feed a child in Jordan for one day would cost $1 (Dh3.67), that’s less than the price of a cup of coffee. For a month, it’s $30. Although our major donors are governments and donor countries, individuals can go online to wfp.org to make a donation.”

You may join the #UAECompassion campaign by donating through the following:

ACCOUNT NAME: Emirates Red Crescent