Emirates Red Crescent opens 26 donation centres across UAE to collect Gaza aid

Sites open daily from 8am to 6pm and will take donated food, health and hygiene items for families affected by the war

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  The UAE has launched a new campaign to provide relief to Palestinians affected by the war in Gaza. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

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  The campaign, called Tarahum – for Gaza, will establish centres to collect humanitarian aid packages for Palestinians

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  It will work with charities, volunteer centres, media and the private sector to collect food, health and hygiene items for those affected by the Israel-Gaza war

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  The campaign was launched in collaboration with the World Food Programme, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Community Development

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  The Emirates Red Crescent Authority launched the campaign on Sunday

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  The move is part of the UAE's efforts to provide supplies to the Palestinian people

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  Food and hygiene items are collected to be sent to those in need in Gaza

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  People from around the UAE gather to lend a helping hand and donate essential items to Palestinians affected by the war

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  Volunteers boxed up food, hygiene and medical supplies

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  Aid will be sent to Palestinians as part of the UAE's humanitarian drive to support those in need

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  The campaign will work towards providing children and mothers with basic needs

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  Additional centres will open across the country at a later date

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  Volunteers at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port on Sunday

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  Volunteers donated food and medical supplies

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  Urgent assistance will be provided to Palestinians affected by the war in the Gaza Strip

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  Young volunteers at the centre in Abu Dhabi on Sunday

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  Volunteers also provided clothing

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  Volunteers have donated a range of items including towels, clothing, food and medical supplies

The Emirates Red Crescent Authority has opened donation centres across the UAE to collect aid for families affected by the Israel-Gaza war.

Nearly 30 sites in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah, Al Dhafra, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Al Ain City opened their doors to volunteers on Sunday.

The donation centres are open daily from 8am to 6pm.

"The Emirates Red Crescent Authority announces it is now accepting donations at all of its centres across the country," it wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The ERC said people can donate food, medical supplies, hygiene products and items such as blankets, nappies and milk powder.

The authority also urged the public to donate online via the ERC website.

The announcement comes a day after volunteers turned out in Abu Dhabi to pack relief aid as part of the authority's Compassion for Gaza campaign.

The campaign has worked with charities, volunteer centres and the private sector to collect aid and was launched in collaboration with the World Food Programme.

More than 1,000 people of various nationalities packed vital supplies into boxes for Palestinian families displaced by the war, at Abu Dhabi Ports Hall in Mina Zayed.

Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, deputy secretary general for local affairs at ERC, told The National the UAE would co-ordinate with the Egyptian government to send relief boxes to women and children in Gaza.

"It is an Emirati initiative for the brotherly Palestinian people in light of the difficult humanitarian conditions," he said.

"There will be a co-ordination with the Egyptian government to send the relief boxes to families and children in Gaza as soon as possible."

Mr Al Mansouri added the ERC would also co-ordinate with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The death toll on both sides since the start of the conflict has crossed 4,000.

More than 11 tonnes of essential supplies including water, sanitary products, food and medicine were sent on a flight from Dubai to Egypt and Lebanon on Sunday by Dubai's International Humanitarian City.

Where to donate in the UAE

Dubai:

ERC headquarters in Al Garhoud area; ERC warehouses in Al Quoz area

Abu Dhabi:

Donation tent at Airport road in front of Carrefour; Al Marina donation tent in front of Al Marina; Al Shahama tent in front of Bani Yas co-operative society; Al Najda Street tent beside Abu Dhabi Distribution Company; Khalifa City tent; Al Shawamikh City in front of Lulu Express; Bani Yas City in front of Lulu Hypermarket; Bani Yas City in front of Bani Yas Co-operative society

Sharjah:

ERC headquarters in Al Rahmaniya area; ERC office in Al Nekhailat area

Ras Al Khaimah:

ERC headquarters in Dafan Al Khor area; Ras Al Khaimah donation tent; Al Dhait South donation tent; Al Rams donation tent; Sha'am donation tent; Al Mairid donation tent

Fujairah:

ERC headquarters in Al Faseel area; Dubai Islamic Bank donation tent at Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Sharqui 83

Ajman:

ERC headquarters in Meshairef area

Al Dhafra:

Zayed City office; Al Dhanna City in Al Ruwais area; Al Sila' area

Al Ain City:

ERC warehouses in Al Markhaniah

Umm Al Quwain:

ERC headquarters at Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street