Distressed OFWs in UAE get help from Pinoy Muslims for Ramadan

As the Islamic world continues to observe the holy month of Ramadan, the Filipino Muslim community in the United Arab Emirates gave a much-needed boost to distressed overseas Filipino workers there by extending help to compatriots currently housed at the resource centre of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). “This is an opportunity for every Muslim to share their blessings by giving and sharing during this Ramadan," said Ismail Sorio, chairman of the Light of Islam for Enlightenment (LIFE) Council, in an article posted on UAE news site Khaleej Times. For this Ramadan, Sorio said LIFE planned to bring out some 50 Muslims from the wards to spend time three times a week at the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque for prayer, Iftar (evening meal) and Taraweeh (evening prayer). “Our aim is to help them by giving clothes, personal effects, praying mats, abaya (Islamic cloak), the holy Quran, other reading materials and providing Iftar meals for 150 wards in coordination with the Red Crescent," Sorio said in the article. LIFE’s Ramadan Call 2010 project also aims to reach out to the Filipino community to help runaway domestic workers. But he said their group’s capability is now limited, and they need the support of the whole Filipino community. Calling on his compatriots under the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ (cooperation), Sorio urged them to help “uplift the (wards’) state of living" by providing financial support and other means. “We’ve been told that 50 of them have their passports and tickets ready; all they lack is the Dh230 fee that needs to be paid at the immigration. They need help, whether for their tickets, clothes or groceries. Let’s give them support in whatever capacity," he said. He added the ultimate goal is to send them home and reunite them with their families. “While they are here, the problem won’t be resolved," he added.—JMA/JV, GMANews.TV