"Merhamet" in Syria distributed 95 tons of meat to 120,000 refugees

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Muslim charitable society "Merhamet" donated 95.5 tons of qurban meat (5,327 qurbans) to Syrian refugees stationed in refugee camps in Syria, near the border with Turkey.

Merhamet's aid will cover more than 30,000 refugee families, or about 120,000 Syrian refugees, in camps in Elbil (Kilis-Afrin region), Karakupru (Çobanbey), Idlib, and some other locations, Merhamet announced.

The President of HO "Merhamet" MDD, Kenan Vrbanjac, reminded that "Merhamet" has been carrying out this campaign for six consecutive years and that so far it has donated a total of about 700 tons of meat, or more precisely, 42,000 qurbans, to Syrian refugees in camps near the Syrian-Turkish border.

"Merhamet" provided the meat intended for Syrian refugees, as every year, during the 'Australian Qurban' campaign, which 'Merhamet' successfully conducted this year in cooperation with 'Merhamet' Sweden. Thanks to the solidarity of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 'Merhamet' has once again provided this significant aid to people who had to leave their homes. Our citizens have, for who knows what time, placed their trust in 'Merhamet' and donated qurbans for refugees from Syria. We thank them once again for this," said Vrbanjac.

He added that 'Merhamet' this year, as well as last year, equipped 500 Syrian children with school supplies and other necessities.

According to him, "Merhamet" successfully carried out this year's campaign with Turkish partner organizations "Red Crescent" and AFAD. The Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Turkey provided logistical assistance to "Merhamet" in carrying out this campaign, as every year.

The qurban meat arrived by ship from Australia in four containers to the Turkish port of Mersin. The Secretary General of HO "Merhamet" MDD, Sidik Aždahić, attended the transport of meat to the refugee camps and its distribution to refugee families from Syria.

This "Merhamet" campaign also met with great support and sympathy from the citizens of the Republic of Turkey, as well as gratitude from official institutions and organizations in this country.

In 2013, in a joint campaign with the Islamic Community in BiH, "Merhamet" equipped a refugee camp near Şanlıurfa with 280 washing machines and a container with sinks.

On that occasion, "Merhamet" was declared the best foreign humanitarian organization in the Republic of Turkey.

"Otherwise, 'Merhamet' has been helping refugees from Syria and migrants in BiH since the very beginning of the refugee wave. Thus, 'Merhamet' prepares meals and distributes hygiene products and other necessities to migrants in the Una-Sana Canton, Tuzla, Sarajevo, and Mostar. We have also helped migrants who found refuge in Serbia and Croatia. We will continue to help these unfortunate people, in accordance with our capabilities," said the President of HO "Merhamet" MDD, Kenan Vrbanjac.