Action of the All-Ukrainian Association of Public Organizations “Alraid” and the Women’s Public Organization “Mariyam” on collecting clothes and articles for the needy

The All-Ukrainian Association of Public Organizations “Alraid” and the Women’s Public Organization “Mariyam” have launched the action on collecting printed matter for reading (books, magazines etc.) in any language and recreation articles (developing games, pens, pencils, football and volleyball balls, clothes etc.) for migrants staying in Ukrainian centers for temporary accommodation (migration centers).

We should remind about Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (may be peace and blessings on him) who called to share everything granted humans by the Most High above their needs with the poor, by avoiding to give out something unfit for use or spoiled, or being in a so bad condition that one would never take it for him(her)self. We, therefore, would ask you: please, bring the articles that you are ready to give in order to help the needy, which are in good condition, clean and fit for use. Clothes should be washed and ironed beforehand, and sorted into male, female and children’s ones. Mind that old underwear is not wanted and, therefore, should not be put in the packs. The collected articles will be taken to the Ukrainian office of the International Organization on Migration, which will deliver them to centers for temporary accommodation of migrants.

These people who are mostly refugees have fled not for fancy considerations but to seek protection for their life, honor and freedom beyond their homeland, rushing out from homes with children and old parents. They are often caught by unfair “intermediaries” who tend to expropriate nearly all the funds received from sales of what has remained of their property in homeland in change for pledges to bring them to a West European country, but deceive them by leaving them in Ukraine, where they are treated as imprisoned ones according to the local legislation. In addition, “intermediaries” often take their documents from them, allegedly for obtaining entrance permissions, which makes their unenviable situation even more worsened.

As they may be detained in centers for temporary accommodation of migrants for months, they often are badly in need for basic necessities: clothes, literature, toys, in a chance to engage in anything during long months of waiting for a decision considered and taken on their matter by the involved Ukrainian administrative offices.

We ask you to be careful and help the people getting into trouble. Having not committed any crime but being kept in the condition of limited freedom, they are devoid of a chance to earn money and provide at least a basic support for themselves and their families, although they would prefer to do it if they had an opportunity to work; in so doing, they would not burden others with their problems and requests. So, let us help them to keep up with their human dignity by sharing the articles with them, which may be useless for us but critically required by them. Let us come together to show sympathy and offer help the people who have nobody here to expect it from. The Most High warns people in His Book: "Allah does not love any arrogant boaster, those who are niggardly and enjoin niggardliness on men; and whoever turns back, then surely Allah is He Who is the Selfsufficient, the Praised" (Koran, 57:23-24).

May the Host High grant you much more benefit for your care and sympathy to others’ misfortunes!

reporter.