Along with countless good Samaritans and houses of worship, Muslims and Arab Americans across Texas and the country have been on the forefront of disaster relief.
Source/Credit: Arab American News
By Hassan Khalifeh | September 7, 2017
[Excerpt]
White, Brown, Black, wealthy and poor of Houston– all whose houses are too severely flooded to be livable – became refugees, lugging bags of their most precious belongings like an exiled Syrian mother abandoning her rubble-turned home.
In the midst of desolation, who you are and who comes to your rescue does not matter. Instead, the sense of fellowship and solidarity that has transpired in Texas has been remarkably inspiring for volunteers like Bilal Rana and his team of more than 100 Muslim youths aiding victims of the storm.
They are part of the 5,000-strong Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s youth association, working with its charity and disaster relief program, Humanity First, to provide anyone in need with food, water, clothing and other supplies.
Texas Muslims in the trenches
Young Muslim volunteers at a flooded parking assisting hurricane victims
Along with countless good Samaritans and houses of worship, Muslims and Arab Americans across Texas and the country have been on the forefront of disaster relief.
It has been an exhausting week, especially as they mobilized as early as two days after the storm first hit. More than 700 of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s local members have been affected by the storm, Rana said.
By car or by boat, the young Muslims volunteers are combing neighborhoods to hand out supplies, helping lift heavy furniture and ripping up carpet, Rana said. But the thankful look on people’s faces are energizing enough to keep them going.
“The whole city was under water, everyone was affected and houses were just a mess,” he said. “But our story of the week wasn’t the hurricane; it was the lives we touched.”
It was also a natural opportunity for them to show who their Muslim neighbors really are, Rana said. He added that their efforts have not gone unnoticed, as many who honk just to show their appreciation demonstrate that Muslims can embody the epitome of patriotism. The “spirit of family among the chaos” has also warded off looting.
Instead of celebrating Eid al-Adha this weekend with a planned festival at their center, Rana said the youth association members will instead remain volunteering in the trenches. They also expect to fly in hundreds more from other states as the water begins to recede.
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Read original post here: USA: Harvey victims find refuge among Muslim Americans
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