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For the last three years, Rawan Al Najjar and her sister Maram have been packing aid kits for various relief operations across the UAE. However, they never imagined that they would one day pack for their home country.
“When we came to pack for Gaza last year, I never imagined that we would come back to put together care packets for our people,” said Maram. “For now, our families are safe but there is always a deep sense of fear in our hearts.”
The sisters, who came with their families, were among the thousands of people who turned up at Sharjah Expo Centre to pack aid kits as part of the national UAE stands with Lebanon campaign.
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Maram’s 6-year-old son, Abdul Rahman, carried boxes almost as big as him to the volunteers who stood in groups of 50 or more at several tables lined up inside the Expo Centre halls.
Rawan, a graphic design student at the Ajman University, said the family arrived at the location at 7am. “We were asked to report early so that we could help set up the stations for when the volunteers arrived,” she said. “We have been to so many packing events in the last few years that we have a fairly good idea how it works.”
According to experts, the situation in Lebanon continues to be a very “alarming humanitarian crisis” and sustained help is needed. “Over 1.3 million people – one-fifth of the population – have been affected,” said Stephen Anderson, UAE office head for the World Food Program (WFP). “They have had to flee their homes and lost their livelihoods. WFP is focusing on the food and nutrition needs of these people, and we are doing our best to scale up our food support to over 1 million of those affected in the coming weeks. Now we have reached more than 200,000.”
He said the UAE’s aid has been crucial in the support they provide. “We have very much welcomed UAE’s announcement of $100 million support for Lebanon and another $30 million for Syria,” he said. “It is a substantial support announced on a very timely basis. The relief kits packed in Sharjah today will be immediately dispatched to Lebanon. A week ago, we benefited from food assistance through the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiative program for over 250,000 people which is already on the ground now and is reaching those in shelters and some of the worst affected areas.”
Over 50 volunteers and family members of the WFP joined in the packing initiative.
Several volunteers patiently waited for their turn at the arrival area outside the hall where the kits packed. Officials said that over 3000 people were expected to help with the packing of 10,000 kits.
“If you look around, you will see people of all nationalities right here in the hall,” said Abdullah Sultan bin Khadim, Executive Director of the Sharjah Charitable Society. “This is the UAE. Everyone stands up for and supports each other, irrespective of their nationality or religion. The vision of our leadership is to support other parts of the world which are in crisis in the best possible way.”
Children as well as adults drew postcards with supportive messages that were then put into the aid kits. Some wore clothes with the Lebanese flag on it while others got those as well as UAE flag painted on their faces.
Volunteers packed items including cooking oil, blankets, food items, hygiene kits and socks. These were then taped and loaded onto trolleys which were then wrapped and stacked in the corner of the hall. From carrying the goods to the tables to cleaning up used packages, volunteers toiled for several hours to make sure the packing continued methodically without a hitch.
Emirati person of determination Fatema AlKibaly was one of those who volunteered at the event. “This is something very important and close to my heart,” she said. “I want to help those who need it in whatever way I can.” Donning a grey volunteer jacket, she stood at the packing counter for over two hours, making sure all the necessary items were stacked neatly inside.
More than 20 students from the Darb AlSaada school volunteered at the event. “We asked students from Grade 8 and above to sign up if they wanted to volunteer,” said teacher Ahmed Abdelrehim. “We usually take them for such events because volunteering and learning to do things for others is a big part of education.”
Syrian expat Karam Kharbotli and Jordanian Saleh Salow, both aged just 13, were among the volunteers. “The Lebanese people are our brothers,” said Karam. “We have seen about their suffering on the news. We cannot bear to watch them like this. That’s why we signed up to help.”
Fifteen-year-old Syrian expat Majd Wael was busy at his end of the table, loading more than 50 packed boxes onto trolleys in less than two hours. The student of Alzhours private school came with his schoolmates. “I think it’s important for us to help people,” he said. “Rather than spending time at home during the weekend, it is better to be here, helping and making a difference to people.”
The event held by The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to provide urgent humanitarian aid to the people of Lebanon. It began at 8am on Saturday and will continue until 3pm.
“What is unique about this event is how so many people have left their homes early on a weekend and come here to pack because they care about the Lebanese people,” said Alya Almatrooshi, media officer at the Big Heart Foundation. “The UAE is providing emergency relief material to those in crisis in Lebanon. People can also donate money through legal channels including through our website to help those who need it.”
For Indian expat Arul and his 8-year-old son, this was the first time they had volunteered for such an event. “I recently signed up to become a volunteer and when I got this opportunity, I knew I had to take it,” he said.
“I felt like I should do something for the people of Lebanon. I brought my son along so that he could see what I was doing.” The father-son duo tore open cardboard boxes of salt, which they carried to the tables that other volunteers then packed into kits.
Last week, more than 4,000 volunteers turned up at a similar event held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City.
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