Pretoria – South Africans have donated millions – R13 898 714.89 to be exact – in under two months to help humanitarian efforts in Syria.
The #SAveSyria initiative was launched by #OperationSA in Dec- ember after devastation in Aleppo.
Over the past few weeks, South Africans have been rallying together, donating to assist Syrian refugees via radio, television, online pledge lines, auctions and cake sales.
#OperationSA donated R9.6 million to seven charities shortly before New Year.
Later, R100 000 was donated for a refugee’s urgent eye surgery following a visit to the Turkish/Syrian border by an #OperationSA delegation led by Yusuf Abramjee and the Al-Imdaad Foundation.
The beneficiaries are the Jamiatul Ulama SA, Africa Muslims Agency, Jamiatul Ulama KZN, Darul lslam Relief Fund/Muslim Judicial Council (SA), Islamic Relief SA, Al Quds Foundation/ Madressah Ihys Uloom Ud Deen and the Al-Imdaad Foundation.
On Sunday, the seven charities received a final R3m payment. They received R238 458 each.
The Al-Imdaad Foundation received more than R1.3m after various women’s groups hosted cake sales in January.
The cake sales saw 32 areas across South Africa collaborating under the banner of the South African National Muslim Women’s Forum. Another donor paid R100 000 to the Al-Imdaad Foundation.
Islamic Relief SA matched its initial donation of R1m with another R1m towards #SAveSyria.