Abu Dhabi: The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) has stepped up its efforts to help the famine-stricken people of Somalia and has appealed for donations to support the cause.
"In two weeks a ship carrying 400 tonnes of items such as food, baby milk and medicines will depart from the UAE on a humanitarian mission to Somalia," Dr Saleh Al Ta'i, deputy general-secretary for external affairs at the RCA, told Gulf News.
Al Ta'i appealed to the public to contribute whatever they could — money, food products or medicines — to ease the agony of the suffering Somali people.
As part of its ongoing efforts to help the Somalis, the RCA has built a camp for 15,000 families at the border near the country's capital Mogadishu, he said.
Meanwhile, the RCA is also working to provide assistance to the less fortunate in the UAE and abroad during Ramadan.
Dh6 million has been set as a preliminary budget for iftar sa'em (ending the fast for the needy) within the UAE and Dh6 million abroad.
"The RCA has set up 32 iftar tents across Abu Dhabi, Musaffah and Baniyas to feed hundreds of guests. At least 6,400 iftar meals are provided daily during Ramadan," Mohammad Al Hammadi, deputy general-secretary for local affairs at the RCA, told Gulf News.
In addition, 2,000 packed meals are distributed daily to labourers at their work locations.
RCA also has a project during Ramadan of distributing excess food from large social events and from restaurants and hotels to needy people. The excess food is packed appropriately before distribution.
"From this project 8,410 meals are distributed daily to families in need, labourers and single mothers at Ghayathi, Musaffah and Al Ain," Al Hammadi added.
Currently, about 3,500 families comprising 17,349 individuals are registered as families in need.
Coupons are also distributed to those who are registered with the RCA in Abu Dhabi and Musaffah.
‘Varying values'
"Over Dh2 million worth of coupons are also distributed to families in need. Depending on the number of family members, coupons of varying values ranging from Dh300, Dh700 and Dh1,000 are given to them," Al Hammadi said. Around Dh2 million in Zakat Al Fitr will be distributed to families in Abu Dhabi and Musaffah. The Red Crescent's efforts were extended to 10 countries to support Muslims across the world during Ramadan.
"17,250 iftar meals are offered daily in Palestine, Lebanon, Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh," he said.
The RCA will also double its efforts to receive donations from the public.
Information
- For donations, call the free hotline 800-733 or send SMS.
- Donations via SMS:
- Dh50 for iftar: to 6885 or 6881
- Dh10 for Eid clothes for children: to 7150 or 7110
- Dh200 for orphans: to 5200 or 7200
- Dh100 for schooling: to 4611 or 7100
