1,800 members of Abu Dhabi group deploy their skills to help Covid-19-affected

Abu Dhabi - 'Our 10-member committee works as a team to attend all emergencies'

More than 1,800 members of the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC) Abu Dhabi, including 80 doctors, are utilising their expertise to provide relief to those impacted by Covid-19.

While doctors are offering free tele-counselling, engineers, financial experts, businessmen and women's forum are coordinating relief operations like distribution of food kits and producing face masks.

The organisation is now ensuring food on plates of over 1,000 persons daily. The venture began this month as distressed phone calls poured in at its help desk. "We started getting 70 to 80 calls from people of various nationalities with different needs, including food and essentials," said Yogish Prabhu, ISC's new president.

"We can't say no to anyone. The task was enormous. Each member contributed to the purchase of essentials. Our 10-member committee works as a team to attend all emergencies," Prabhu said.

"People who need medical advice are connected to our doctors. Basic medicines are also arranged for those in need. We coordinate with the Indian Embassy and associations like Abu Dhabi Malayalee Samajam, Kerala Social Centre, Indian Islamic Centre, Indian Ladies Association and Indian Social Centre Al Ain. We conduct virtual meetings, phone calls, WhatsApp groups, SMS to coordinate works."
Trio leads relief campaign
The relief works are spearheaded by ISC general secretary JoJo Ambooken, treasurer Shijil Kumar and social welfare secretary Aita Raja Srinivas Rao. "There are visitors, tourists who are stuck here, others who are in quarantine. Many have lost jobs. We can't leave out anyone who seeks help. This is the holy month of Ramadan too," Ambooken said.

Now the distributed food kits double up as essentials for Ramadan. "We have two types of packets - bachelor and family. One kit will last for a week. We redistribute every week." Rao urged people in need to contact 24X7 helpdesk at 02-6730066 and 0551058482.
150 women join hands
The women's forum of the ISC, which has a 150-strong force, is also volunteering using their skills. "We are making masks to be distributed among those in need," IWF convenor Deepa Lobo said.

The ISC members expressed gratitude to the UAE leaders for humanitarian service, cooperation and support to assist people affected by this pandemic. "We salute the healthcare workers and local authorities who are working together in this fight against the virus," they said.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

• Ramadan 2021
• Abu Dhabi