Saudi Interior Ministry enforces penalties for unauthorized Hajj attempts    L'Oréal Saudi Arabia inaugurates 'L'Oréal for the Future' summit in Jeddah to empower Saudi women and promote sustainable growth    Gaza kitchens warn food will run out in days after two months of Israeli blockade    Al Ahli eye maiden continental crown in historic AFC Champions League Elite final    Mahrez targets historic treble with AFC Champions League Elite title    Al Somah extends his legendary lead as Saudi Pro League's all-time top scorer    US songwriter Jill Sobule dies in house fire    Saudi Arabia fines eight foreign trucks for illegal goods transport in April    Defense minister attends elite special forces exercise in Northwestern Region    Saudi Arabia releases updated GDP data highlighting expanded non-oil sector contribution    Saudi Arabia to showcase culinary heritage at Taste of Paris 2025    Donald Trump looms large over Australia's election    GAMI is organizing Saudi pavilion at Athens International Defense and Security Exhibition    PIF announces pricing of $1.25 billion international sukuk offering    Businesses count costs as India and Bangladesh impose trade restrictions    Israel fires largely controlled after mass evacuations    New Parkinson's Pump therapy introduced at King's College Hospital London in Dubai First-of-its-kind treatment offers a new lease on life for the youngest Parkinson's patient in the UAE and MENA region    King Charles sends heartfelt message to fellow cancer patients    Al Nassr crash out as Kawasaki Frontale reach AFC Champions League Elite final    Saudi Transplant Congress discusses scientific advancements and innovations on organ donation and transplantation    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Helping Haiti
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 14 - 01 - 2010

made catastrophes happen around the world, often to those who are least fortunate and least able to react efficiently and adequately. Such is the case of the massive earthquake that struck Haiti, resulting in still an unknown number of dead and inestimable damages to an already devastated infrastructure in the poorest of all nations in the Western Hemisphere.
The photos coming out of Port-au-Prince are heartbreaking. There are images of terrified children in tears, elderly men and women being pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings, the grief-stricken faces of those who have lost loved ones. Yes, Haiti is a half a world away and not far from the coast of the US, making it easy to tsk-tsk and then turn the TV channel to something more entertaining.
The US will, no doubt, send massive aid to the impoverished nation that shares an island with the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. But there is no reason for those of us in this part of the world to withhold our own charitable giving simply because of Haiti's geographic location. Charity is something that should have an effect not only on those close to home but on those who are far away and who lead lives quite different from our own.
Most countries in the Gulf have been blessed with abundant oil reserves beneath their territory and the presence of Red Crescent advertising in most urban centers is evidence that charitable giving is a reality here even beyond the parameters of Ramadan.
Yet, what better way to reach out to the world and enhance understanding among the various peoples of the world than to step in when a truly foreign population finds itself devastated by circumstances far beyond its control? How uplifting would it be both for ourselves and those suffering the consequences of natural disasters to see crates of supplies arriving clearly marked “from the people of Saudi Arabia?”
Yes, close to home, the Palestinians need our help as do the Indians and the Pakistanis and the Bangladeshis. We cannot ignore them. But a donation to Haiti... that would open a door that has long been closed. __


Clic here to read the story from its source.