‘The images haunt me’: UAE residents rush to donate and help Palestinians in Gaza – News

At Abu Dhabi Port, in Mina Zayed, volunteers worked from 9 in the morning to package thousands of kilograms of aid.

On Sunday, Camelia Zainal Baqer Moheibi coordinated two vans to drive to Abu Dhabi and deliver several aid boxes as a personal contribution to the UAE’s campaign to raise aid for Palestinians trapped in Gaza.

“As soon as I heard about the campaign, I knew I wanted to contribute,” he said. “I had a lot of stock of children’s clothing from my business. We also have a supermarket from where I added some preserves, candles, blankets and other necessities to the help we were leaving. “This is the least I can do to help.”

Camelia was grateful for the opportunity to help and went the extra mile by offering space in her van to anyone who wanted to send help. “Not everyone has the convenience of driving to Abu Dhabi and dropping off items, so I offered transportation to anyone who wanted to send things but couldn’t,” she said. “Furthermore, I am proud to be an Emirati, a country that always runs to help and provide help to those who need it most.”

Camelia is one of hundreds of UAE residents who came together to help with the initiative titled ‘Compassion for Gaza’ led by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), which aims to send essential items to those They are in the besieged city of Gaza. At the Abu Dhabi port complex, in Mina Zayed, volunteers worked from 9 in the morning to package thousands of kilograms of aid.

Outside the room, there were hundreds of packages of essential items as people rushed to contribute them in a city that has been heavily bombed since Hamas launched an offensive attack on October 7.

Long tails

Inside the room, long lines of volunteers waited patiently for their turn to help pack the care boxes. They had to follow a simple registration process and were called based on the time they registered. Every 45 minutes a new group of helpers was called.

A volunteer, who did not want to be identified, appeared in the room around 2:30 p.m. in her work uniform. “I just finished my shift and took a taxi to get here,” she said. “I didn’t have time to go home and change, but I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to help. “The images of Gaza have been haunting me and this is all I can do to help.”

Some people came alone while others came with their entire families. Many wore black and white ethnic Palestinian scarves in solidarity with the country. Those who wanted to contribute cash could also do so at one of the windows.

Pack for a cause

After a briefing, some of the volunteers lined up on both sides of long tables packing items, while others helped pack the boxes of items and place the necessary stickers.

Children up to 4 years old accompanied their parents to help with the initiative. Some of them tiptoed to put items in the boxes, while others were lifted by their parents so they could help.

The packaged items included hygiene products such as toothbrushes, shampoo and sanitary pads, as well as canned food, biscuits, baby food and blankets. According to ERC, more collection points throughout the country will be announced in the coming days.