JEDDAH: Over 1,500 female and 1,700 male volunteers are participating in relief efforts for victims of the recent floods in Jeddah Governorate, said Sarah Baghdadi, Director of Warehouse Operations of the Committee for Coordinating Social Work. There has been a huge response at the registration centers, showing a heightened sense of national and social responsibility, she said. She said women from all walks of life took part in operations, including businesswomen. The differences vanished during the work at the warehouses. Social responsibility prevailed over everything, Baghdadi added. “Our youth devoted their time to work in the interest of society and this made them feel that they can shoulder responsibility. Individuals, companies and establishments did not hesitate to send needed foodstuff, detergents and children's needs.” She said that nearly 30,000 food packets have been distributed. Meanwhile, Ulfat Qabbani, Deputy Chairwoman of the Industrial Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and Deputy Chairwoman of the Higher Committee for the Federation of Female Arab Investors, expressed astonishment at claims that businesswomen were absent from the volunteer centers. She said that businesswomen were playing their part “perfectly”. “Many of them were present at charitable societies and affected districts, apart from their hard work at the Jeddah International Center for Forums and Activities,” said Qabbani. “I know that there are many businesswomen who provided important donations in kind and carried out important and effective roles to support these blessed efforts that are clear evidence of the social solidarity and generous charitable work in the ‘Kingdom of Humanity'. These deeds have proved the mettle of the generous Saudi people. This is in addition to the presence of large numbers of young men and women at the Jeddah Exhibitions Center with direct support from businessmen for this blessed, charitable social work,” added Qabbani. Qabbani called for the creation of an official body under which all charitable work should fall throughout the year and not only during crises. She said the Kingdom has large human resources of both sexes and they should be used in the interests of the nation. There is a high level of patriotism among citizens and this should be translated into positive and fruitful action. The lack of proper organization and coordination is hindering the professionalism and comprehensiveness of volunteer work, she added. She said the success of volunteer work this year was as a result of the great job done last year when a database for volunteers was set up comprising 5,000 young men and women. Meanwhile, Turki Al-Saleh, a businessman, said the responsibility for repairing the damage and destruction caused by the floods lies with the government, especially with regard to cleaning the streets and districts and drying up the swamps and stagnant pools of water that have become breeding grounds for many serious diseases.
