Muslims abroad come to aid of flood victims

By EDD K. USMAN
October 24, 2009, 6:47pm

More assistance from foreign Muslims worth about P3-million for typhoon victims are coming for distribution in the Philippines, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) giving their share worth over P1 million on Saturday in Maharlika Village, Taguig City.

UAE's assistance donated by the Sheikh Zayed Bin Al-Nahyan Charitable Foundation is reportedly worth P13 million, part of it to be given to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNCR), and some 10 truck-load of relief goods distributed in Maharlika Village for 1,400 families affected by the flood caused by tropical storm “Ondoy.”

Aleem Amin Balindong, who is monitoring the distribution in the Muslim enclave, said the distribution in Maharlika Village is being handled by the Office on Muslim Affairs-National Capital Region (OMA-NCR).

Balindong, who works at the UAE Embassy in the Philippines and is an official of the Blue Mosque Learning Center, said the donation was sent by UAE President Sheikh Kalifah Bin Zayed Bin Al-Nahyan.

Meanwhile, the Salaam Police Community Relations Civilian Volunteers, Inc., (SPCRCVI) under the auspices of Police Supt. Datumama M. Mokalid, Al-Hajj, chief of the Regional Human Rights Affairs Office, also distributed about 500 packages of relief goods to flood victims in Tumana, Marikina City.

Mokalid said this is the third time the Salaam Police community volunteers have distributed relief goods to flood victims, the first in Baseco, Tondo, and the second in Taytay-Rizal.

"Our group is doing its best to help our suffering fellow countrymen," said the Muslim police officer.

Malaysia's Dunia Melayo, Dunia Islam (Malay and Islamic World World of Malay) DMDI, charity organization, 6:45 PM 10/24/2009will also be distributing relief goods tomorrow in Maharlika Village, Tumana in Marikina City, Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City, and Sitio Arenda, Taytay, Rizal.

DMDI president Datuk Seri Mohammad Ali Bin Moahmmad Rustam, minister of Malacca, and his delegation is coming to Manila to lead his group's humanitarian and mercy mission for Filipino flood victims.

Mrs. Hadja Ann Basman, president of the Taha M. Basman Memorial Islamic Foundation (TMBMIF), relief distribution coordinator, said the DMDI aid is worth over P600,000.

On Oct. 28 and 29, Libya's World Islamic Call Society (WICS) headed in the Philippines by Director Muhammad El-Ballushi will be distributing about a million pesos worth of relief goods at the Capitol in Pasig City.

El-Ballushi said the relief distribution is being coordinated with the city government of Pasig.

"Our assistance is our way of sharing with the suffering of the flood victims. WICS has been a helping all Filipinos regardless of religion for many years now and we intend to continue to assist our brother Filipinos," said El-Ballushi.