The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, has launched a fund-raising campaign to help Syrian refugees survive the harsh winter. The campaign is launched under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children.The campaign is in line with TBHF’s belief in the need for community engagement in alleviating the suffering of refugees and underprivileged people. The week-long fund-raiser is launched in collaboration with City Centre Ajman, City Centre Nasseriya and Matajer Malls in Sharjah.The campaign is launched to help Syrian refugees living in neighbouring countries and provide them with emergency aid to alleviate their suffering. Refugees face tough winter conditions and freezing weather, adding to their misery. Temperatures have dropped to below zero Celsius and accompanied by strong winds in the Levant region, conditions are getting worse, raising questions over how refugees will survive the tough winter, particularly those who live in camps, temporary homes and tents that cannot withstand heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of Salam Ya Seghar, an initiative by TBHF, said: “We launched this campaign as a collective initiative to support refugees. Charity and goodness are deeply rooted in the Emirati society, and this campaign provides an opportunity for all of us to contribute to helping refugees, who are in even greater need during the bitterly cold winter months.”She said, “The campaign is in line with the UAE's humanitarian and philanthropic approach to help the poor and needy people all over the world. The foundation organizes this campaign at this particular time to provide assistance to refugees who live in makeshift camps under harsh winter conditions that affect their health due to the lack of life essentials and healthcare."Al Hammadi added that refugees are living under very difficult conditions during the bitter winter months due to the freezing weather and wind storms. "Thousands of families are unable to protect themselves and their children from the bitter cold and its consequences. Even worse is that families do not have money for fuel to keep their tents and temporary homes warm," she said.
TBHF will continue to follow the conditions of refugees and their children inside and outside the camps to ensure they are provided with their most basic daily needs to help them overcome the new obstacles and crises caused by the bitter winter. The Foundation wants to meet the needs of refugees and help them to live a dignified and safe life until they can return home after the crisis.”Al Hammadi urged all community members to participate in the campaign and help alleviate the suffering of refugees. She added that refugee children are living in very difficult conditions in camps and temporary shelters which afford them little protection from freezing temperatures and winter storms.Al Hammadi noted that people can help provide essential supplies such as warm sleeping bags by donating AED 75 or by donating AED 200 for blankets and mattresses, heating stove can be provided for a refugee family by a donation of AED 370, while donating AED 375 will help provide basic needs of one family for one month and AED 750 will help secure the needs of a family for two months.
In addition to serving our Northern Emirates communities, our malls strive to reach out to the wider masses in Syria in their time of need. In gathering together to collect and provide aid in the way of food and funds, we hope to provide the basic human rights that are essential in rescuing our brothers and sisters around the globe,” said Hamad Al Lawati, Community Malls Manager, at Majid Al Futtaim Properties. “In line with Majid Al Futtaim’s vision to create great moments for everyone, everyday, our mall staff are passionate about lending a helping hand to those in need and we encourage our communities to actively participate too.”The collection box locations are City Centre Ajman, City Centre Nasseriya, Matajer Al Juraina, Matajer Al Mirgab, and Matajer Al Qouz, and the funds raised will go towards providing vital supplies for refugees. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi officially launched The Big Heart Foundation in June to coincide with World Refugee Day, after the transformation of the Big Heart campaign into a global humanitarian organization, aimed at doubling efforts to provide support and assistance to refugees and the needy in various parts of the world. This move endorses the UAE’s commitment towards humanitarian contributions and initiatives, and enhanced its reputation regionally and globally.