The “Donation for Syria” campaign by Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) has so far evoked a good response, however, much more needs to be done given the daily news of carnage by armed gangs. The nationwide fundraising campaign for helping refugees inside Syria will come to an end on June 30.

“I can guarantee the donors that their donations will go only to the needy people in Syria who have been affected” in the ongoing unrest, Ali Ibrahim Shenoon al Raisi, Executive Chairman, OCO, (pictured) told the Observer in an exclusive interview.

Al Raisi said the target is to raise RO 4 million in this campaign. Once the campaign is over, the OCO team will go inside Syria and will be personally involved in providing assistance to the refugees, injured people, widows and orphan children. The OCO has had discussions with the Arab Syrian Red Crescent in this regard.

Since the unrest began in Syria last year, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and its volunteers have been at the forefront of the humanitarian response, bringing first aid to casualties and assistance to families displaced from their homes. Oman will also work in co-ordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, said Al Raisi. Al Raisi said he is delighted to note that 60 per cent of the target for the donation campaign to help Syria is already met. The Government of Oman will also contribute to the funds for assistance to needy people in Syria.

The ongoing unrest in Syria has left thousands of Syrians displaced, maimed, orphaned and widowed. As more Syrian cities are getting caught in the crossfire of attacks by armed gangs, refugees are fleeing to different parts of the country. The number of people in refugee camps and hospitals is on the increase.

Oman Charitable Organisation has opened special accounts for the Syria donation drive at Oman Arab Bank A/C 31010 53013500, BankMuscat A/C 0423010706280016, Oman International Bank A/C 1500900401, and National Bank of Oman A/C 1049337798006.

Experts say it is heartening to know that the “Donation for Syria” campaign continues to receive a very good response from citizens and residents in the Sultanate. In all donation campaigns, the public in Oman plays a very enthusiastic role.

Experts said those who can donate something would do well to remember that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said, The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body, when one of the limbs is afflicted, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever (Bukhari and Muslim; RS 224).

On another occasion, the Prophet (pbuh) said: One who helps a fellow Muslim in removing his (or her) difficulty in this world, Allah will remove the former's distress on the Day of Judgement. He who helps to remove the hardship of another, will have his difficulties removed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. One who covers the shortcomings of another Muslim, will have his faults covered up in this world and the next by Allah (Bukhari and Muslim; RS 233).
“No one is a true believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself” (Bukhari and Muslim; RS 236).

To cap it all, Allah Almighty says in the Glorious Quran: By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, reward) unless you spend of that which you love... (3: 92).

With this background, the experts and social workers say it is a golden opportunity for people to support the Syrian victims, a donation that can be likened to the best investment with huge and guaranteed returns in this world and in the Hereafter.

The steepest price during the continued unrest has been paid by the innocent children and women affected by it, hundreds of whom died in the attacks.

Most of the orphan children and widow women now live with extended families, and in hundreds of makeshift refugee camps.

Their problems have been compounded because of the continuing attacks by armed gangs.

In view of these tragic circumstances, the OCO has urged that those who care for the orphan children, widows, injured people and the internally displaced people should donate to the special bank accounts that OCO has opened in four banks in Oman.

Al Raisi said OCO’s humanitarian works in Yemen have been continuing in four different parts of the country since 2005, thanks to huge support from the government and people of Oman.

As for Bahrain, Al Raisi said so far no inquiry or request has come from the Bahraini people for an assistance programme. Oman is ready and willing to help needy people in all parts of the world.