Private relief organised

Times News Service

MUSCAT –

Dar Al Atta (house of giving) charitable organisation has its hands full these days doling out to the victims of the destructive cyclone that struck exactly one week ago.

Since the day after the cyclone, Dar Al Atta has received hundreds of calls for help and has responded to each one of them admirably.

These calls are not only from individuals but also from private sector companies who needed help in this time of this crisis.

Thousands of cartons of water were also given away by Dar Al Atta because of the severe water shortage which hit Muscat as a result of the cyclone.

“We have been practically going all over Muscat including Yitti, Quriyat and other areas to provide relief, mainly food ration. This would be sufficient for two to three days. We will be going again to all the places again,” said Shata Abbas, board member of Dar Al Atta.

Besides food, other items like mattresses, pillows, blankets and plastic items like buckets, mugs etc have also been distributed by the organisation to hundreds of people.

There are two relief camps at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher and other at Mohanna bin Sultan School where around 1000 people are being provided with food and water.

The office of Dar Al Atta is being flooded with calls both for help as well as from donors. Many companies which cannot be named have donated a number of items.

More than 20,000 cartons of water and thousands of tons of food was donated to the victims, informs Maryam Al Zadjali, chairperson of Dar Al Atta.

All the goods are delivered to the wali of that particular wilayat or area, who then distributes it according to the individual needs, it is disclosed.

Dar Al Atta was also the first private charitable organisation to reach the victims of Tropical Cyclone Gonu in Quriyat last Thursday, Maryam said.

Eight pick-up trucks from Dar Al Atta reached Quriyat as soon as the road was opened for traffic, the day after the cyclone passed over.

“Our team did not rest for three consecutive days as they would return, load the goods and go back to Quriyat as the need was tremendous in that area,” she said.

Maryam said that Dar Al Atta has adopted a two-pronged strategy to tackle this gigantic humanitarian task.

“In the first phase, we wanted to provide immediate relief like providing the essential items including food to the victims. Now the second phase of our operations is to help in the rehabilitation of the people who have lost their houses,” she pointed out.

Among those who are taking shelter in Bausher stadium and the Mohannad school, there are many who have lost their houses. “We would like to help them rebuild their homes,” says Maryam.

Dar Al Atta has opened a special account for this crisis donation. Money can be deposited in BankMuscat account no 0032600120081038.