Nearly $1.2m collected for Gaza aid

A fund-raising drive by the Muslim community here has collected nearly $1.2 million for people affected by the conflict in Gaza.

All 68 mosques here and the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) collected funds.

A total of $1.18 million was raised between July 18 and Aug 17, the largest amount the RLAF, together with the mosques, has collected for humanitarian efforts in the past 10 years, the foundation said yesterday.

Members of the public also donated online, and the total includes contributions by people of several faiths.

For example, the Caritas Humanitarian Aid and Relief Initiatives Singapore, the Catholic Church's social arm for overseas humanitarian aid, donated $10,000 through the inter-faith Harmony Centre.

The first tranche of US$203,100 (S$254,000) has been sent and is already being used to help distribute food, clean water, mattresses and basic shelter.

The second tranche of US$205,000 (S$256,000) will fund medical aid, such as buying an ambulance, wheelchairs and first-aid kits. The remaining funds will be used for longer-term projects in Gaza.

"We are exploring what other projects we can do that can have a more sustainable effect on the communities affected by the crisis, especially the children and the elderly," said Mr Zainul Abidin Ibrahim, a member of RLAF's board of trustees.

This article was first published on Aug 26, 2014.
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