Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Pulmonary and Critical Care physician currently
practicing in the greater Chicago area.
The response of the world to the crisis in Haiti has been overwhelming. Even poor countries, such as Zambia and Sierra Leone, have sent cash assistance to help the people of Haiti. Something to which the U.S. Media has not paid much attention is the amount of assistance that has come from the Arab/Muslim worlds.
The Arab American Institute has listed in a press release the assistance provided by Arab countries, and I thought it was important to highlight this fact:
ALGERIA
Granted $1 million in emergency humanitarian aid.
BAHRAIN
Sent a disaster relief team to provide aid, pledged $1 million in relief and the Bahrain Red Crescent Society appealed for donations for Haiti.
EGYPT
Allocated medical supplies and personnel.
JORDAN
Established a 12-bed military hospital in Port-au-Prince, and are also feeding children who enter; dispatched two planes carrying a mobile field hospital, rescue team, doctors and six tons of aid supplies that include food, medicine and clothing.
KUWAIT
Sent 100 tons of food, medical supplies, tents and blankets; donated $1 million, delivered through the country's Red Crescent Society;
LEBANON
Airlifted 25 tons of tents, 3 tons of medicine, vaccines and other supplies; sent aid workers to help in relief effort.
MOROCCO
Sent $1 million worth of medical and pharmaceutical supplies.
PALESTINE
Individuals donated money, food and clothing to the Red Cross.
QATAR
Mobilized 26-person rescue team of soldiers, police and medical professionals; sent 50 tons of aid.
SAUDI ARABIA
Donated $50 million, which will be directed through the United Nations.
SYRIA
Airlifted 30 tons of humanitarian aid.
TUNISIA
Allocated $1 million to the United Nations Emergency Fund that was created for Haiti relief.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Contributed over $2.6 million; three UAE charities donated more than 200 tons of medical equipment, tents and blankets, food and drinking water.
In fact, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Saudi Arabia is the third largest donor to Haiti, behind the United States and Canada. Saudi Arabia gave more money than Spain, Sweden, France, Norway, and Denmark.
But, of course, that doesn't make much news. But, if it was about terrorism...
