Nirvana gives in aid of people of Gaza

Little over R160 000 was raised during Sunday afternoon’s screening of British producer Abrar Hussain’s film One Night in Al-Aqsa for the people of Gaza, described as the world’s largest open-air prison, when the community of Nirvana pledged towards the efforts steered by international humanitarian aid organisation Islamic Relief.
During the event Zaheer Rajah, who is Islamic Relief South Africa’s Community Fundraiser and Volunteer Coordinator, referred to Birmingham-based Islamic Relief co-founder Hany El-Banna having been bestowed the 2020 Ubuntu Social Responsibility Award by President Cyril Ramaphosa the previous evening. In the visuals on the work of Islamic Relief in over 44 countries across the world, the message was conveyed that the organisation was the largest to be effecting humanitarian aid in Gaza.
With the first screening at Northern Muslim School in Polokwane, which was also the third in South Africa after two sold-out sessions in Johannesburg, a team of representatives and volunteers of Islamic Relief raised R161 000 in ticket sales and pledges of R900, R1 000 and R5 000 towards food, shelter and medical supplies to relieve the plight in Gaza.
Visuals of the situation in Gaza preceded One Night in Al-Aqsa, a documentary that spans preparations for and the arrival of worshippers from across the world for a night of prayer in the compound in Jerusalem where an estimated 400 000 people gather at a time to make up part of 3 million visitors to the venue during the Holy Month.
When interviewed for Polokwane Observer, Islamic Relief South Africa Fund Development Head Abdul-Aleem Gamza said he had never been to Gaza himself due to the fact that nobody was currently being allowed in but expressed the hope that they would be able to gain access to Gaza during the course of the year.
He added that they had been able to get in supplies and resources with much of a struggle. In many areas they worked on the ground with locals who became involved as humanitarian aid workers for communication purposes and getting the message across, it was learnt. All Islamic Relief aid got channelled to their Birmingham headquarters and once containers were ready the relief based on demand for food, shelter and medical assistance got dispatched, Gamza explained.
Describing the situation in Gaza as diabolical, he indicated each visual of the situation pulled at one’s heart strings and touched one in some way or the other as it depicted the sad realities of Gaza.
They witnessed a general trend of generosity among communities across the country for which he expressed gratitude.
Addressing the issue of their work worldwide, he referred to lending aid in war-stricken areas or places hit by natural disasters by using the examples of Islamic Relief rendering humanitarian assistance after the floods in India, earthquakes in Pakistan and even in Bosnia where the war has long been over but where they were still lending aid to the people experiencing the after effects thereof.
Back home they have done a lot of work, including the installation of water points and wells across the country as well as given assistance at the times of the most recent storms in Durban, he said. The projects were ongoing and they were hoping to roll out increasingly more projects in South Africa. Currently no help was being directed at Limpopo, but they were working closely with communities in the province to assess the need for projects, he indicated.
Lastly Gamza responded to a question whether he ever visited Al-Aqsa, he stated he had travelled there in 2015 and that the documentary truly portrayed the real experience. It resonated and made one felt like going back because the hospitality of the people was unbelievable, something that couldn’t be second-guessed, he concluded when remarking he was definitely planning a return.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
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