Ramallah: Scores of flower shops in the Palestinian territories have decided not to sell red flowers this Valentine’s Day so that Palestinians can donate the money they might otherwise spend on these symbols of love to ease the suffering of the Palestinians of Al Yarmouk Refugee Camp in Syria. Valentine’s Day is widely observed in the Palestinian territories and is a peak trading season for flower shops despite the inflated prices on this particular day.
Palestinians in the West Bank spend a lot of money to mark the occasion, despite several calls from Islamic groups for the Palestinian public to avoid marking the occasion.
“This year our people in the Yarmouk Refugee Camp in Syria need our help, attention and prayers more than marking Valentine’s Day does and the public needs to be reminded of the suffering of these Palestinians,” said Firas Farrah, the owner of a pioneer flower shop in Hebron, who decided to suspend selling flowers on Valentine’s Day.
“The amount paid for each red flower should go to help the Palestinians in Al Yarmouk — this is better than giving it to me or to any other flower shop,” he told Gulf News. Farrah said that those who pay for flowers can instead donate their money to the starving Palestinians dying in Al Yarmouk. He also said that those who do not have the money to buy flowers can pray to God to ease the suffering of those Palestinians living in the Syrian refugee camp. He said that customers have been supportive of his initiative and have responded favourably.
Each West Bank city has set up a donation fund to collect money for the Al Yarmouk Refugee Camp Palestinians. Ali Ammer, a Palestinian resident, welcomed the move saying it was a display of Palestinian solidarity, not only within the territories but also the Palestinian diaspora.
