Amman: Moza Al Mualla knew that people were suffering in Syria, especially because her family takes a keen interest in donating towards the cause. So, when an opportunity arose for her to meet the refugees herself, the 16-year-old could not turn it down.

“Now that I have seen how hard it really is for the refugees, I know that I will return to the UAE and only work harder to encourage more contributions for these unfortunate families,” the Emirati from Fujairah told Gulf News.

She was part of a delegation from the UAE Ministry of Education that on Thursday visited Syrian refugees in Jordan and saw for themselves the UAE’s relief efforts there. The group, led by Marwan Al Sawaleh, Undersecretary at the ministry, also contributed items to help the needy tide through the cold winter months.

“Our President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a call in December 2013 for urgent aid to be delivered to the people of Syria. We took this message seriously and have been working hard since then to collect funds and aid items,” Al Sawaleh told Gulf News.

The donations, which include blankets, warm clothing and food such as dates, were distributed to about 300 families during the visit.

“We also wanted our children to understand the seriousness of the situation as well as the need to provide support for those in need,” he added.

This is why a group of 12 Emirati pupils from the UAE were given a chance to accompany the ministry delegation to Jordan. There, they visited the Emirati-Jordanian Field Hospital in Mafraq, 20 kilometres from the Syrian border, as well as the Emirati-Jordanian Camp in Az Zarqa area.

In addition, the pupils, who were accompanied by a team of educators, also had a chance to interact with the camp’s inhabitants, and distribute hundreds of toys and sweets.

“The people we saw at the hospital were so much in need. Nothing that you see on television can prepare you for this. But what really struck me is how happy the Syrian children were even though they have so little,” said Hamad Abdul Rahman, a 16-year-old from Dubai.

Abdul Rahman said that he had been wearing a muffler emblazoned with the colours of the UAE flag.

“I took it off and handed it to this eight-year-old boy in Az Zarqa, and he nearly cried with joy. When I return to the UAE, I will tell my friends to keep donating. Every little thing helps,” he added.

Mariam Naqi, another pupil from Sharjah, said the visit had made the suffering of the Syrian people more real to her.

“I feel lucky that I was able to provide a little hope to the children I met. I cannot wait to relate my experiences to my family and friends, and encourage more assistance for Syria,” she said.