‘Aid Kalba’ drive to help weather-affected families attracts hundreds of volunteers, unites community
- 23 Apr 2024
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
The “Aoun Kalba” (Aid Kalba) community volunteer campaign attracted more than 1,000 male and female volunteers to support efforts to help those affected by the unprecedented weather situation the country recently faced.
The people of the city of Kalba worked hand in hand with various stakeholders and community organisations to provide the much-needed aid and assistance to all those affected in an exemplary manner celebrating the best of human and social unity and cohesion.
The Al Fareesh District Council, the headquarters of the Aoun Kalba campaign, saw a heart-warming and inspring outpouring of support by the volunteers, citizens and residents who came together for the fourth day in a row to provide food and logistical support to all those affected.
The campaign was initiated by Hilal Saif Obaid Al Kindi and his wife Aisha Al Raisi who called for individual and collective efforts to support all those affected by the recent heavy rains. The campaign is part of a collective initiative titled “Aid Kalba Campaign.”
Based as it was on the individuals’ sense of social responsibility, the idea found immediate support and approval from the Kalba Police.
Al Kindi stressed that the Aoun Kalba campaign is the productive fruit of the vision and seeds sowed by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, HH Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi.
“The seeds of goodness and giving are in the souls of the people of the emirate and its residents, and it is a small part of returning the favour,” stressed Al Kindi.
More than 3,000 food packets
He added, "In less than 24 hours, the campaign has become a reality, in which more than 1,000 male and female volunteers from various age groups have participated. The campaign has been providing more than 3,000 food packets and baskets of essential food commodities that families and children need on a daily basis. The volunteers are working constantly and going to great lengths to deliver the aid to the beneficiaries."
The Aoun Kalba campaign has hailed and supported by the Sharjah Police General Command, the Suburbs Affairs Department, the Sharjah Charitable Society, the Sharjah Civil Defense, the Sharjah Cooperative Society, the Sharjah Environment Group (Beeah), the Emirates Red Crescent, the UAE Armed Forces, the UAE Ministry of Health, and the Department of Social Services.
A number of schools and nurseries in Kalba also participated in the campaign, with their students and administrative teams joining the team of volunteers. The English School in Kalba provided logistical support with computers, printers, and tables to complete aid tasks.
More than 700 students and administrators from Victoria School Kalba also took part in the initiative. With the help of various government departments and agencies, they were able to reach out to the needy. The campaign touches and covers major areas including the remote and rugged ones.
Kalba Municipality
Meanwhile the Municipality of Kalba City, in cooperation with the competent authorities, has been continuing its efforts to mitigate the consequences of the weather conditions that the country recently faced. Field work teams are working around the clock to attend to the damaged areas and return life to normal as soon as possible.
Kalba Municipality proactively dealt with a number of valleys and dams to divert the floods waters resulting from heavy rains, away from homes and farms. They diverted the flood waters to the sea, Al Farish Dam and Wadi Sur Kalba.
Artificial sand beams were constructed at the mouths of overflowing dams, reefs, and around government institutions, Kalba Hospital, Kalba Comprehensive Police Station, schools, and other vulnerable areas.
Integrated work teams were allocated around the clock to drain rainwater from residential areas, streets and public squares using pumps and heavy machinery.