Telethon to raise funds

A fundraising television progra-mme prepared by Sheikh Moha-mmed bin Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Foundation, in cooperation with Dubai Television, will be aired this week to support the Palestinian cause.

The telethon is being organised following the instructions of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence.

Through this programme, people can phone in and offer their donations to the Palestinian cause.

The initiative - which comes as part of the ongoing joint relief campaign of the UAE-based charity organisations under the banner "We Are All Palestinians" - will be held from 3p.m. on Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday.

"No other people in the world have suffered torture as much as the Palestinian people. Our conscience demands that we help our brethren in Palestine in their time of distress to uphold the noble values that humanity stands for, but are always denied by the Zionists," said Ibrahim Bu Melha, Dubai Chief Prosecutor and Vice-Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, while announcing the telethon at a press conference at Dubai Municipality yesterday.

He said: "Charity and donations for the 12-hour programme are expected to reach not less than Dh 100 million, including the Dh 20 million donated by Sheikh Mohammed."

Bu Melha noted that Sheikh Mohammed has shown his willingness to donate more money for the cause whenever needed, and the first donation was made with the purpose of encouraging UAE nationals and residents to donate.

He noted the combined efforts of local charity organisations in this field have evoked a tremendous response from the UAE residents irrespective of their nationality, religion or age.

Abdul Latif Al Gargawi, Programme Coordinator at Dubai Radio & Television, said the programme will be aired live on the Arabic channel.

For non-Arabic speakers, an English telethon will be aired on Channel 33 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. This will also include some other foreign languages.

He said arrangements were on in full swing at the TV station to make the programme a success. As many as 24 computers and other pieces of equipment were being deployed to handle the calls from the public and to telecast live from shopping malls, commercial centres, social clubs and other public places.

"Technical arrangements will be handled by Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology," he added.

There will also be discussions on the Palestinian issue by prominent personalities from the UAE and other countries. There will also be regular updates on the situation in Palestine.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed that the 12-hour programme should be aired alongside live coverage and reports broadcast from the occupied territories in Palestine.

The press conference was also addressed by Khalid Ali Zayed, Member of the Board of Trustees and Head of the Foundation's Public Relations Committee, and Abdulrahman bin Subaih, Head of the External Assistance and Relief Committee.