JEDDAH, 9 August 2006 — Even as Saudi Arabia has been officially rushing aid to the Lebanese families affected by ongoing Israeli attacks, its citizens have also been mobilizing their effort.

Institutions, men and women have been individually or collectively campaigning with the knowledge of the Lebanese diplomatic mission to canvass support for the war-ravaged people.

Some of them have been interacting with the Lebanese Consulate General here to know the country’s needs on a day-to-day basis and then impressing on established business houses, donors and philanthropic organizations to route their donations through the consulate.

One of the institutions playing an effective role in this direction is Jeddah-based European Business Center, which has its branches in Beirut and Cairo.

“Our Beirut branch, which has essentially been linking businessmen between the Kingdom and Europe, has now become an operational center to receive material donations and reach them to appropriate authorities,” its president and CEO Mohammad A. Azzam told Arab News yesterday.

“We’re not collecting cash at all, but forwarding the Lebanese consulate with a list of prospective donors willing to meet needs of the Lebanese families,” he said, adding that the list is compiled on a day-to-day basis and forwarded to the consulate. Thus, the prospective donors directly interact with the consulate.

“Our campaign is not loud. We’re, in fact, spreading the message through the word of mouth. We’ve thus succeeded in getting assurances about contributions including 21 Hyundai vehicles and heavy equipment,” Azzam said. Quoting consulate officials, he said Lebanon urgently needed ambulances, bulldozers and other heavy equipment to save the people trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

Food is perhaps the most urgent need of the Lebanese families and so we’ve been successful in approaching various food companies and supermarkets. “About 150 electric and gas ovens, and fans have already been handed over by donors to the consulate,” Azzam said.

Encouraged by the willingness of food outlets and restaurants and their guests to contribute toward donations including ambulances, cars and consumer items, arrangements are being made to display such items in front of the outlets. “Many outlets have also expressed their willingness to direct part of their daily sales toward the cause,” Azzam said.

The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s women members have been playing a major role in this direction, Azzam said.