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Weak response to quake donation drive in Al Ain

AL AIN — Hamad Saif Al Shamsy, Director of the Al Ain branch of UAE Red Crescent Society (AARCS), has said that the response to the campaign for South Asia earthquake victims in Al Ain has been a let-down and below expectations as donations have been “too little” from either organisations or residents.

“We expect aid in kind in addition to cash to help victims that face dangerous circumstances there,” said Al Shamsy.

He noted that the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has ordered donation of $100 million as an urgent assistance for relief to the sufferers of the earthquake which hit Pakistan.

“The President’s move should encourage every individual inside Al Ain to give a hand to poor victims especially in the holy month of Ramadan. We have to follow the President’s example,” he said.

Over 21,000 persons were killed in the Pakistan earthquake and more than 46,000 injured.

He appealed to Al Ain residents, locals and expatriates, to donate in order to contribute to the relief efforts for the earthquake injured, adding that the AARCS expects nomads to give milk and camels for the victims.

Al Shamsy said that the AARCS has set up 25 donation spots at several shopping centres, banks, hypermarkets, besides in Al Ain Cooperative Association branches, in addition to the Society’s site in Al Markhaniyah.

“Those centres will accept financial donations during the holy month of Ramadan. The authority also accepts foodstuff from wealthy people to feed the quake’s victims who are suffering too much now,” he said.

He said that the Society’s Al Ain Branch would expand the donation centres to 50 by the last ten days of Ramadan.

“Although the UAE Red Crescent Society campaign for Pakistan victims collected millions of dirham from all regions of the UAE, Al Ain shows a major languish,” Al Shamsy lamented.

He asked Al Ain residents to request the AARCS delegates to show their identity cards before donating and also take receipts from them.

• UAE