DUBAI: In the face of the Israeli incursion in Gaza, many tech-savvy Arabs have mobilized and used their skills to collect aid for the victims.
Using modern technology like SMS, e-mail and social networking websites like Facebook, these activists are using their professional skills to rally others to help. Such voluntary work has been invaluable to NGO’s that are trying to aid the Gazans.
Dozens of such volunteers recently helped collect donations for a fundraiser in the UAE. The nationwide telethon, which lasted for more than seven hours, collected around Dhs 315 million in aid.
Stationed at the Al-Qasba Canal in Sharjah, Zeina Al-Masri, was a volunteer who helped organize the day’s event. Under the banner “For Gaza with Love,” Al Qasba had different activities educating the public about what was happening in the embattled strip. Al-Masri, who works as a human resource coordinator, was also active in organizing candlelight vigils in Dubai using Facebook.
Another volunteer, Samer Constantini, did not realize how a list he complied could become so useful for those who wanted to donate aid for the Gazans. “When the bombings started I went to the pharmacy to buy medications. I realized that people would not know what to buy so I made a list and sent it to all my e-mail contacts. I got a lot of feedback from people saying the list was very helpful,” he said.
Constantini, who is a PR manager, then spoke to a local pharmaceutical chain and suggested that they come up with a Gaza Care Package. The package, which contains medications, baby milk, swabs, surgical gloves and other medical supplies are now being sold all over the UAE for either AED250 or AED500.
Constantini said in times like this, people need to get involved and need venues to come together and share information.
