MFS – EMMAUS: 16 trucks of aid dispatched for Syria

This morning, the third and largest aid convoy to date, consisting of 16 trucks from the local humanitarian NGO MFS-EMMAUS, departed from Brijesnica for Syria. The donation includes 340 tons of flour, 22,000 liters of oil, and 8 pallets of baby diapers.

The convoy, named 'BiH for Syria', is traveling to the Turkish-Syrian border, from where the aid will be distributed to the people in Syria and refugee camps. Among those present at the send-off were Edin Ramić, Minister of the Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bego Gutić, Prime Minister of Tuzla Canton, and Vahid ef. Fazlović, Mufti of the Tuzla Mufti Office.

Minister Ramić expressed his gratitude to MFS-EMMAUS, with whom, as he stated, "several joint projects have been realized, and this is the first one concerning our aid to refugees in Syria." Prime Minister Gutić stated that the Government of Tuzla Canton provided funds for the transportation of 4 trucks.

- I want to thank MFS-EMMAUS for another successful campaign. Who understands the people of Syria better than us Bosniaks? Thank you all for participating - Gutić stated.

As on previous occasions, the convoy to Syria will be accompanied by several employees, volunteers, the director of MFS-EMMAUS, Hamzalija Okanović, and several representatives of the Tuzla Mufti Office who will stay at the Turkish-Syrian border until April 8. The convoy is expected to arrive at its destination on Wednesday, April 5, 2017.

"On this occasion, I want to thank MFS-EMMAUS and many dedicated people in this organization, led by Director Okanović. They are a true example of readiness to care for the needs of people, not only in our homeland but also beyond. Thank you to our imams and community members, and all citizens who participated in this good deed. This is a great message from a small country, that all people should be brothers and compassionate because we all have approximately equal needs," said Mufti Vahid ef. Fazlović.

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with Medžlis (local Islamic communities) mostly from the Tuzla Mufti Office area (MIZ Gradačac, MIZ Srebrenik, MIZ Bratunac, MIZ Odžak, MIZ Banovići, MIZ Gornja Tuzla, MIZ Čelić, MIZ Bijeljina, MIZ Teočak, MIZ Brčko, MIZ Srebrenica in cooperation with the Srebrenica Youth Center, MIZ Kladanj, MIZ Lukavac, MIZ Janja, MIZ Modriča, MIZ Šamac, MIZ Vlasenica), and the Muharem Berbić Foundation participated in collecting food and hygiene products intended for this convoy. Then, companies and institutions such as DMDE Brijesnica Velika d.o.o., Vegafruit Brijesnica Mala d.o.o., CLK Interpromet Klokotnica, Zedina Klokotnica, Trgovir d.o.o. Gračanica, Pjeskara d.o.o. Dobošnica, Invest gradnja d.o.o., Municipality of Lukavac, Džemat Mannheim Germany, while the Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees of the FBiH and the Government of Tuzla Canton participated for the most part in covering the transportation costs of the 16 trucks.

We thank once again all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who participated in this humanitarian action in any way and that we have once again shown our humanity, which has been proven so many times!