CAIRO, EGYPT — War leaves indelible scars. The trauma experienced by the community, especially children, has long-lasting effects that linger until their final days. Reflecting on the extensive history of the Muslim community, the land of Palestine has perpetually been a battleground for jihad between truth and falsehood, right and wrong. Invariably, the majority of casualties are civilians, encompassing children, women, and the elderly, indiscriminately. This underscores the critical need for humanitarian volunteers.
Palestine is in dire need of humanitarian volunteers who are ready to engage actively on the ground. Take, for example, Mush’ab Ali Yusuf, a humanitarian volunteer in Gaza. For him, serving as a volunteer in the holy land is a source of immense pride, as it allows him to directly experience and alleviate the hardships endured by the survivors in Gaza. Although Mush’ab Ali Yusuf was born in Gaza, he has lived and grown up in Turkey. He is known for his amiable personality.
Mush’ab has dedicated a significant portion of his life to volunteering, particularly in Gaza, Palestine. Dompet Dhuafa, an Indonesian humanitarian organization, is well-known to him. He has been familiar with Dompet Dhuafa for some time, especially regarding their disaster management efforts in Turkey, Gaza, and the West Bank.
Currently in Cairo, Egypt, he is collaborating with local partners to assist in the procurement, selection, packaging, loading, and dispatching of various essentials for the people of Gaza. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the local community have significantly eased the Dompet Dhuafa Humanitarian Team’s efforts in Cairo to procure aid for the Palestinian people.
Thanks to his humanitarian connections and a broad network of food supplies, the logistics for the Humanitarian Truck were efficiently arranged. This efficiency meant that there was no need to spend excessive time searching for procurement partners. His expertise also guides the Dompet Dhuafa humanitarian team on identifying the most crucial items needed in the current circumstances. With Gaza entering the winter season and temperatures dropping to nearly below 50 Celsius, the situation for the survivors there is becoming increasingly challenging.
Mush’ab also recounts how he frequently has to part from his family, wife, and three children, to participate in humanitarian missions, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank. To him, family is paramount, which fuels his deep concern for the survivors in conflict zones.
Mush’ab is often amazed by the generosity of the Indonesian people, who regularly contribute aid to countries afflicted by disasters. He contrasts this with the Arab world, which, despite its wealth, often shows limited compassion.
“Thank you, people of Indonesia, thank you, Dompet Dhuafa, you are our finest brothers,” he often says. These words encapsulate the gratitude felt by many Palestinians for the benevolence of the Indonesian people. (Dompet Dhuafa/DMulyadi)