Muslims raise cash for Palestinians

10:24pm Wednesday 18th June 2008

THE Muslim community has raised thousands of pounds to fund humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.

Two fund-raising dinners were held at the 3D's Hall in Daubhill last weekend and collections were also taken at Bolton's mosques.

Around £15,000 was raised, which will be spent by charity Islamic Relief in Gaza.

Bolton South east MP, Dr Brian Iddon, gave a presentation at one of the dinners about his own experiences of life in Gaza, following a visit earlier this year.

He said: "Conditions in Gaza are bleak, with little or no fuel for public services, including garbage collection and ambulances. People have to walk to work, often arriving late, including doctors, nurses and teachers.

"Food distribution is down to the basics and, recently, the UN were unable to distribute food at all. Around 80% of Gazans now rely on charities and the UN to distribute their basic food supplies."

He added: "If electricity fails at al-Shifa hospital for 30 mins, 80 people die and, if it fails for a week, 250 people die."

Dr Iddon is secretary to the All-Party Britain-Palestine Group in Parliament and has appealed several times for governments to take action over Israel's blockade of goods going in and out of Gaza.

He said: "This collective punishment on the imprisoned people of Gaza is illegal under international law."

The idea for the fundraising came from Daubhill resident Saira Youssouf, who was inspired to do something after seeing harrowing news reports about Gaza on television .

She said: "The event could not could not have taken place without the support of my family and friends as well as the generosity of the public, many of whom I had never even met before.

"We hope that our contributions will make a difference to those who we may never meet but are definitely not forgotten."