JEDDAH: Volunteers have again come forward to help those residents badly affected by floods this week, particularly in the Umm Al-Khair district, east of Jeddah. Four groups of more than 32 volunteers helped to clean houses and remove soaked and damaged furniture. They had gathered Friday afternoon at Abrug Al-Raghama, east of Jeddah, to start their social mission, in coordination with the Civil Defense. “Three days ago, I contacted the Civil Defense asking them if they needed any help in Umm Al-Khair district. They said they needed volunteers to help residents clean their houses,” said Rasha Hefzi, one of the volunteers. She added that the members are volunteers in many civil society groups. They are acting to help others as part of their Islamic duty, she said. “I contacted the young people through Facebook and the BlackBerry Message (BBM) service.” The Muatana Social Society helped people at Kilo 14 districts and Golail. “We do believe in working as a team. Therefore, there was no specific leader of the group. I took the initiative and worked with the coordinators Badr Abdulgani, Ahmad Romkani and Hashem Dagastani,” Hefzi told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. During the 2009 floods, volunteers helped people in the east of Jeddah, especially in Quwaizah, by distributing food, blankets and medicine.
