São Paulo – The Brazilian community living in Palestine donated on Thursday (21) 1,600 meals to vulnerable families residing in the al-Am’ari Refugee Camp in Ramallah. The initiative was organized by the Brazilian Citizens’ Council in Palestine, which made the delivery with the help of volunteers.
The chair of the council, Fátima Hamayel, told ANBA that the donation was made on the occasion of Ramadan. Ramadan is the Islamic holy month when the Muslims fast during the day and have meals only after the sun goes down. “We’re in Ramadan, so we at the Council had the idea to offer meals for the families in most need here in Palestine, who live in refugee camps,” Hamayel explained.
According to her, there are refugee camps scattered across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The camp that received the Brazilian donation is home to over 5,000 families that lost their houses and lands during the invasion of Israeli troops in 1948. “They live in an extremely difficult situation in terms of infrastructure,” the chairwoman says.
The council had garnered donations from Brazilian citizens, with the contributions coming from individuals ranging from housewives to college students. “It was very rewarding for us to give some attention, some assistance, even if modest, to these people who live in a very difficult situation in the refugee camp,” she says.
Citizens’ councils as the one in Palestine are an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil to help in the dialogue between the Brazilian government and civil society living overseas and in planning activities focused on these groups. The councils are responsible for bringing Brazilians and the diplomatic representations and Brazil’s embassies closer together.
Here’s is more on this:
Brazilian Citizens’ Council in Palestine is all-female
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
