SYRIA — Dompet Dhuafa accompanied by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Syria and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), distributed humanitarian aid packages for victims of the Syrian earthquake on Friday (31/3/2023). One of the aid distribution points is in Adnan Al Madani Madrasa, Hamdaniya District, Aleppo.
One of the survivors in this refuge, Mohammad Jabar, told how scared he was when the earthquake occurred on February 22, 2023. At that time, he, his wife, and four children were engrossed in joking at home. Without any warning, he felt a violent shock. The equipment of the whole house moved erratically against the wall. Takbir, tahlil, istirja chants were instantly uttered many times from each of the lips of this small family.
“During the earthquake, I was scared. My family and I immediately ran out of the house. The state of the house is now destroyed after the earthquake,” he said to the Dompet Dhuafa Team.
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Today, Mohammad Jabar’s family lives in exile with hundreds of other families. In this refuge, one classroom is occupied by 4 families. The evacuees have occupied this school building since the first day of the evacuation, as directed by SARC on the day of the earthquake.
“They have been here for about 2 months,” said one SARC member.
“Everyone lives up here,” West Java said, pointing to the top floor of the refugee building.
Trauma and worry still accompany West Java and its family. However, he admitted that he continued to try to be grateful and feel happy because there were still many people who cared about his family. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Indonesia who are far southeast.
“Please express our gratitude to the Indonesian people there,” he added.
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To West Java and all other refugees, Senior Officer of Da’wah Dompet Dhuafa, Ahmad Pranggono as one of the distribution team conveyed, Dompet Dhuafa came amid Syrian society representing all donors from the Indonesian community. In addition, the Indonesian people in the country did not stop pouring prayers and collecting aid for Syrian earthquake survivors.
“We came with a little help from the Indonesian people, hopefully, it can ease a little burden on the brothers,” he said.
Hundreds of food packages containing canned food and basic foodstuffs were packed in boxes and distributed at this evacuation point. The aid is a form of Indonesian people’s concern for the Syrian people. On humanitarian grounds, the people of Indonesia, through Dompet Dhuafa, express their deep sorrow to the victims of the Syrian earthquake for the disaster that occurred.
“The Syrian people welcome the arrival of Dompet Dhuafa here (evacuation of Syrian earthquake victims). They want this brotherhood to continue to exist between the people of Syria and Indonesia,” Ahmad concluded. (Dompet Dhuafa/Muthohar)