Moved by Gaza children's suffering, Dubai kids give up entire savings to help

Nine-year-old Ayaan Saboor Mendon has been good at saving his pocket money, and over the past six years, he was able to keep nearly Dh8,000 — an amount that can easily buy him whatever he wants. But about a week ago, he decided to give it all away.

"When I learnt about innocent people dying in Gaza, I couldn't stop thinking about them," said Ayaan, a student of North London Collegiate School.

He used to know nothing about the war, but through discussions with his parents and private tutor, he learnt about how thousands of children and families are suffering in Gaza.

“I saw several children that had been hurt and rushed to hospitals in the middle of the war. I felt that I was so privileged," said Ayaan.

"I can't do much," he said, "but I can surely help a few of them". Ayaan said all he had was his savings and, without a second thought, he told his parents he wanted to donate the money.

More than 3,600 Palestinian children were killed in the first 25 days of the war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. They were hit by airstrikes, smashed by misfired rockets, burned by blasts, and crushed by buildings.

'My heart goes out to children, families'

Emaan Ali, a 13-year-old in Dubai, has been following the conflict closely. “I feel for the children and families suffering in Gaza,” said the Grade 9 student of Winchester School in Jebel Ali.

Determined to make a difference, she decided to break her piggy bank and donate the money to the Emirates Red Crescent Society.

“I have been reading about the conflict for a long time, and my heart goes out to the children and families suffering. What I can do at the very least is donate my piggy bank money to children there who are facing real hardships,” said Emaan.