UAE schools and pupils lead donation drives for Gaza aid

Cash donations and food supplies collected as part of Emirates Red Crescent's humanitarian campaign

From left: Pupils Malek Zuhdi, Masa Oklah, Marlee Mapstone and Aspen Murray take part in the aid collection campaign for Gaza, at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Schools in the UAE are hosting voluntary events for pupils to give to families in Gaza. Victor Besa / The National

Eighth-year pupil Masa Oklah, and Aspen Murray, who is in the third year, during the aid collection drive for Gaza at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Pupils at the school are donating essentials such as such as diapers, toothpaste, soap and shampoo. Victor Besa / The National

Some of the goods donated by pupils and their families at American Community School of Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Marlee Mapstone, who is in the seventh year, takes part in the aid collection drive. Victor Besa / The National

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Pupils across the UAE are organising their own donation drives to collect aid for Palestinian families affected by the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Schools are also hosting events throughout the month for volunteering pupils to collect donations that will be sent to families in Gaza.

All donations will go towards the Emirates Red Crescent's Compassion for Gaza campaign.

Small steps can help change the world

Satarupta Mukherjee,
18, pupil at Gems Modern Academy in Dubai

“Our children wanted to be able to help and to really do something to help others their own age,” said Monique Flickinger, superintendent at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi.

“Starting this week, we are collecting items outlined by the Emirates Red Crescent and later, we will assemble those items, which include necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.

“Students said that this was a small thing they could do as children to help other children.”

Al Salam Community School in Dubai also launched its donation drive on Monday and is collecting aid for the ERC's Compassion for Gaza campaign.

“Our student and parent volunteers have been supporting all week by collecting items and cash donations which will be sent to families in Gaza through the Emirates Red Crescent,” said Kifaya Khan, the school's principal.

Mr Khan said the school would also be hosting a donation event on November 10, with all proceeds going to the ERC's campaign for Gaza.

“The event will allow our community to come together to embrace the culture and heritage of Palestine, while also raising aid for the relief effort.”

A learning process

Satarupa Mukherjee, 18, an Indian pupil at Gems Modern Academy in Dubai, is leading the donation drives at her school.

“I registered myself as a volunteer and thought that rather than just giving supplies, why don't I take the initiative in school and ask everyone to help get one more thing,” she told The National.

She is still planning the logistics and working with the school to make it a success.

“My friend and I will be going on the day with all the supplies and the school will be providing transport, and will help us by keeping all the cartons in place.

“Small steps can help change the world,” she said, adding that this experience of supporting a humanitarian cause was a learning process for pupils.

“I feel school is not only about studying or getting an education, it's about getting a platform to raise your voice and understand what's happening around you.”

Donation drives are continuing across the country, with malls collecting aid for Palestinian families through the ERC's humanitarian initiative.

Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls said on Thursday that it had teamed up with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority to hand out donation boxes to shoppers.

Malls in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi will be accepting donations, including cash, blankets, canned food, new clothes and children's supplies, that will all go towards those affected by the war in Gaza.

The UAE has sent a plane carrying 68 tonnes of vital food supplies to the Gaza Strip as part of its humanitarian support for the Palestinian people.

The aircraft flew to Al Arish in Egypt on Friday, in co-operation with the World Food Programme.

The food aid is expected to cross into the enclave through the Rafah crossing to help families affected by the war.

The latest from the Israel-Gaza war – in pictures

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A survivor is found in the rubble in Nusseirat. AP

A man is given oxygen and pulled from the rubble in Nusseirat. AP

This desperate search for survivors is being replicated across the Gaza Strip. AP

Yocheved Lifshitz speaks to the media outside a Tel Aviv hospital after being released by Hamas. EPA

Israeli women who were held hostage by Palestinian Hamas militants, Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper (also known as Nurit Yitzhak), are released by the militants. Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron before their talks in Jerusalem. AP

Palestinians search for casualties at the site of an Israeli air strike on a house in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

Palestinians inspect the damage of a destroyed house that was hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis. AP

Ms Cooper and Ms Lifshitz arrive at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre after being released by Hamas on Monday. AFP

A woman cries next to the rubble of a building after Israeli strikes on Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. AFP

Wateen, a 14-month-old Palestinian baby, who was wounded in an Israeli strike that killed her mother and injured her twin brother Ahmed, recovers at Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. Reuters

A Palestinian girl clutches salvaged books as people look for survivors in the rubble of a destroyed building hit in an Israeli strike in Khan Younis. AFP

People mourn during the funeral of members of the Abu Morad family who died following Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis. AFP

A wounded Palestinian man arrives at Nasser Medical Complex, following Israeli air strikes on the town of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. AP

Red Crescent Society employees sort humanitarian aid bound for Palestinians in Gaza, at a warehouse in Arish, Egypt. EPA

Ayman Abou Chamalah stands next to his daughter Mecca as she receives care inside an incubator at a hospital in Rafah. AFP

Israeli soldiers carry the coffin of Erik Kraunik, chief of security in the kibbutz of Be'eri, during his funeral at a cemetery in Yehud, Israel. AP

A man sits among the rubble of a building destroyed in Israel's bombardment of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

A Red Crescent worker sorts aid for Palestinians in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the blockaded enclave. Reuters

Israeli soldiers take part in a drill near the border with Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion. EPA

Men fill fuel containers with drinking water in Rafah. AFP

Smoke billows over Gaza after an air strike, as seen from southern Israel. AP

A person holds a child as Palestinians gather in Khan Younis at the site of a house destroyed during an Israeli bombardment. Reuters

Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank near the border with Gaza. Getty Images

Buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Khan Younis. Reuters

Palestinians are evacuated from a building in Rafah that was hit during Israel's bombardment. AP

Shahar Idan, 9, mourns during the funeral of his brother Maayan, 18, who was killed by Hamas gunmen in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz. His father Tzahi is being held hostage in Gaza. Reuters

Palestinian doctors treat a premature baby at Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al Balah, Gaza. AP

Rescue crews search for bodies after Hamas militants attacked the kibbutz of Be'eri in Israel. Getty Images

Lorries carrying humanitarian aid head to Deir Al Balah after crossing from Egypt through Rafah. Bloomberg

Palestinians evacuate survivors in Deir Al Balah after an Israeli bombardment. AP

Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes on Gaza. EPA

Israeli soldiers at a position along the border with Lebanon. EPA

A woman leans against the window of an ambulance outside Kuwait Hospital after an Israeli strike in Rafah. AFP

A Palestinian cries as the body of his daughter is recovered from beneath the rubble of a building destroyed during an Israeli air strike on Rafah. AFP

A convoy carrying humanitarian aid arrives in Rafah after crossing into the Gaza Strip from Egypt. Bloomberg

The pictures of more than 1,000 people abducted or killed during the attack by Hamas militants are displayed on empty seats at Tel Aviv University. Getty

Palestinians are evacuated from buildings in Rafah after the bombardment of the Gaza Strip. AP

Israeli soldiers gather at an undisclosed location near the border with Gaza. EPA

Palestinians mourn outside a house in Gaza struck by Israel. Reuters

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Palestinians wounded in the bombardment of Gaza are taken to Al Asa Hospital in Deir Al Balah. AP

Rescuers search for victims and survivors in buildings destroyed by air strikes in Khan Younis, Gaza. Getty

Residents of Tel Aviv show support for the families of hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas. Reuters