Readers’ forum holds ‘Welcome to Ramadan’ in Riyadh

Dubai: A blood donation drive was conducted by Karnataka Sports and Cultural Club (KSCC) at in Al Wasl Club Stadium here on Friday, 26th June 2020.

The drive started around 1:00 pm and continued till 4:00 pm as per schedule provided by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Blood Donation Centre and 60 people donated blood to support the Blood Bank. The drive was well organised by maintaining social distance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As blood cannot be produced but only can be donated, this drive will help many patients in need of blood during emergencies. Donors were also feeling proud and happy at this moment thinking of saving someone’s life.

DHA Blood Donation Centre staff carried out the screening and testing done in very well manner keeping social distancing during this pandemic. Volunteers of KSCC were also helping the staff to keep people in safe distance and to make this drive a success.

KSCC Manager Mr. Mohammad Shafi and other office bearers were present at the event venue. KSCC thanked the volunteers, Community Development of Authority (CDA), Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Blood Donation Centre, Government of Dubai and Al Wasl Club Stadium for making the event successful.

The Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC), Bahrain, has charted aircrafts to repatriate stranded expatriates to India. 

Boby Parayil, General Secretary, OICC National Committee, Bahrain has thanked all those who supported in this cause.

“The aircrafts were not licensed and were in crisis until the last minute. Finally, Mohammed Mansoor, president of Bahrain chapter of Indian Overseas Congress approached IOC Middle East in charge Dr Arathi Krishna, who helped get permission to operate flight to Kozhikode,” he said in a release. 

All mandatory approvals from the Foreign Ministry of Affairs and other government officials were accomplished by Dr Arathi Krishna. OICC has expressed gratitude to her for her timely support, he said. 

OICC is also grateful to former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy for doing necessary arrangements to get all the approvals for flight landing in Kerala, he added.

Kuwait: Eid is usually a time of family get-togethers and feasts after weeks of dawn-to-dusk fasting. But this year people celebrated at home, with virus fears dampening the holiday spirit and strict restrictions in place.

Kuwait went under full curfew before the start of Ramadan leaving people to practice fasting and Ramadan rituals at home, Even Eid al-Fitr came under full lock-down period.

As situation demanded, IMA Kuwait celebrated the Eid Get-together online via video conferencing tool, All IMA members participated joyfully in Eid Milan online gathering which was scheduled immediately after Eid prayer. Members participated and congratulated each other on the eve of Eid.

The IMA president Shamvel Parviz addressed the gathering and thanked them for joining online for this unique Eid celebration which will be remembered in history. He also advised members to be aware of conditions of neighbors, friends and family and assist them if they need help in this difficult time.

Eid al-Fitr follows weeks of fasting and marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Thousands of Muslims all over Kuwait followed strict guideline and performed Eid prayer at home along with their family.

As a part of social service activities IMA also distributed ration kits before start of Ramadan and during Ramadan for needy people all over Kuwait.