Rahma Relief fundraising dinner for Yemen
By Saba Ibraheem
Rahma Relief Foundation fundraising Dinner. Photo by Saba Ibraheem
Imagine coming home not being able to feed your kids. Imagine not even having food for yourself. Imagine that your child is dying in front of your eyes and can’t do anything to help. This is not just a story; this a reality that many people in Yemen are living.
On Dec. 15, 2018, the Rahma Relief Foundation hosted a fundraising dinner in Dearborn Manor Banquet to help the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. “We serve the most vulnerable with compassion and mercy,” Rama Al Hussaini, board member of Raham Relief Foundation, said during the welcome speech.
Al-Hussaini told the story of the 7-year-old Yemeni girl who died because of hunger. Amal Hussain shocked the world after she was featured in a photograph by The New York Times. Amal died because of malnutrition in a refugee camp in northern Yemen. According to the United Nations, a child dies every 10 minutes because of hunger in Yemen. The UN said that the eight million Yemenis relying on emergency supplies might rise to 14 million, and that’s about half of Yemen’s population. Amal was one of the many heartbroken examples that children in Yemen are encountering.
The conflict in Yemen rooted back to the 2011 Arab Uprising when Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president, was forced to resign and gave the power to Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, the current president. Then the corruption, economic catastrophe, and terrorist attack fled the country to exile. The Houthi, rebel movement, obtained support and took over the capital city of Sana’a. Saudi Arabia and other neighboring countries provided troops to help with restoring government. The conflict between the Houthi and the government is a part of the country struggle and led to the killing of 9,245 and injuring 52,800 since March of 2015, according to UN. The United Nations also labeled this as “ the Worst Man-Made Disaster.”
During the event, Imam Mohammad Almamari gave a lecture about “caring” and urged people to stand with Yemen in the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. During his speech, Imam Almamari explained the qualification of having a great character and understanding other people challenges. He also revealed that understanding an issue may not be enough, but people have to care and to take action.
Imam Almamari referred to a quote by the Prophet Mohammed (saws), “Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest form of Faith”. People have to feel the issue with their hearts first, the Imam said.
“I traveled to Yemen to understand the situation there, and became sick right when I got there,” Imam Almamari said. “I had to have a procedure done; then I saw what was really happening at the hospital. People were dying next to the door of these hospitals and doctors were performing surgery in the hallways.”
“People in Yemen are not asking for money; they are asking for food. People are really suffering there, and we have to help them,” Almamari said. Then he encouraged people to help by understanding the pain of these people.
Then Imam Hamood Afifi gave a short lecture in Arabic by thanking people for coming and encouraging attendees to support Yemen. “The suffering in Yemen is bigger than what you can imagine. People are lacked of the basic needs like food, water, clothes, and shelter,” he said. “If you can’t afford to help, then invite others to help by spreading the message, as the Prophet Mohammed (swaw) said the one who points towards something good gets the same reward as the one who did the good itself.”
Dr. Shadi Zaza, the founder, and president of Rahma Relief Foundation ended the event with fundraising, and a short speech about his experience going to Yemen and the number of people require help. “What makes you human is that you care about others,” he said.
With the generosity of the participants, the Rahma Relief Foundation was able to raise $180,000 during the event. This amount can help a small percentage of people suffering in Yemen. With your help, the foundation can help more people.
Take an action today by donating, volunteering, helping the foundation reach those in need in Yemen, becoming a sponsor, or attending and hosting events.
Ways to donate: Website, www.RahmaRelief.org; Email, info.rahmarelif.org; Facebook Page: rahma.relief.foundation; Phone Number: 248-990-4247. On Twitter use #StandWithYeman or text Yemen to 50155.
(Saba Ibraheem is a freelance journalist. She graduated with a bachelor degree in Media Studies and Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. Reach her at sabaibraheem1@gmail.com)
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