In a heartwarming display of compassion, thousands of UAE residents joined hands to champion the “Give Gaza Goodness” campaign hosted by Choithrams for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Between March 25th and June 20th, supporters of the campaign purchased Goodness Foods products marked with a special sticker, designed to look like a healing bandage with the message: “Give Gaza Goodness”, thereby helping raise much-needed funds.
UAE residents have shown that they want to make a difference and created a movement with support from all segments of the community. Every day, more than 500 retail staff at Choithrams reminded customers of the campaign’s goals by wearing a badge with the message: “Give Gaza Goodness”. This was a truly people-led movement, with support coming from all walks of life.
In addition to an emergency response donation of AED 365,000 by Choithram International Foundation in 2023, the recently concluded “Give Gaza Goodness” awareness campaign was hosted by Choithrams, Dubai’s popular community supermarket, to provide further support. It helped secure an additional AED 215,000 for the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The contribution is like prayers from the people of Dubai, bringing life-saving therapeutic food to Gaza residents in distress, including children for whom malnutrition remains a grave concern. The combined contribution of AED 580,000 serves as a vital lifeline for the people of Gaza. It enables the presence of an extensive team of surgical and emergency professionals, actively working to save countless lives.
L.T. Pagarani, Chairman of Choithrams Group, said, “Where there is Goodness, humanity prevails. We are grateful that so many people have come forward to support “Give Gaza Goodness” campaign. At Choithrams, we have been putting Goodness in action for more than 50 years, but every time it fills us with great pride to team up with our customers, partners, and members of the staff to serve a meaningful purpose. With this collaborative effort, we enable MSF in its critical medical and humanitarian interventions.”
For MSF, the ability to respond quickly to medical humanitarian emergencies is crucial to saving more lives. Expanding on the remit of the support, Khalid Elsheikh, Executive Director of MSF UAE said, “As we all know by now, Gaza’s population faces imminent risks and most-urgent medical needs. Thanks to the compassion and kindness of Choithrams’ customers, together we lend a hand and provide essential medical and psychological assistance, as well as humanitarian aid, to the most vulnerable individuals in Gaza, offering them hope and relief in their time of greatest need.”
As of 31 May, MSF operates in two hospitals (Al-Aqsa hospital, Nasser Hospital), one clinic in Gaza City, and five healthcare facilities, including one in Al-Mawasi in Rafah, two in Khan Younis, and two in Gaza’s Middle Area. Here, MSF teams are offering surgical support, wound care, physiotherapy, post-partum care, basic healthcare, vaccinations, and mental health services.
