7 Relief Volunteers crossed Europe to aid Syrian Refugees

Five thousand kilometers took a young Palestinian man to reach Syria to provide aid.

“Maher Hayatla” with other volunteers in a long risky “marathon trip" travelled through many European countries, and their destination was Syria.

The trip was part of a humanitarian convoy consisting of four cars carrying relief materials, clothing and prescription drugs to help the affected, wounded, and hungry people.

A journey fraught with danger and risks did not stop these volunteers who insisted on providing aid for people who are forgotten by the world and humanity.

“Maher Hyatlh " a vibrant man in his twenties emigrated with his family from Al Yarmouk refugee camp to Britain 16 years ago and studied accounting in London and works in one of the accounting firms there .

“We are not pioneers in using this idea, and others have preceded us in such trips which rely on organizations and individuals’ donations”. Maher said to “Eqtsad” website.

“We buy ambulances and ordinary cars, load them with humanitarian aid and send them to Syria through the European countries via Turkey”.

“The humanitarian institutions and aid workers found that best way to ensure that this aid reaches the needed people and not be stolen is to be delivered by hand, whether inside Syria or in FSA- held areas”, Maher added.

“Seven people driving four cars and taking shifts whenever someone is tired, we drove through many European countries such as Scotland and England with no troubles until we reached the Turkish borders, we stopped due to undone official papers.

Once we reached Bab Al Salam we left our cars for aid workers to send them to Aleppo”. Maher said.

The reasons which prevented us from entering Syria are: ISIS dangerous presence, our concerns of exposing FSA soldiers to danger if they accompanied us, and fearing the British government’s accusations of supporting terrorism, Hyatla Explained.

On explaining the donations sources Maher said :”The sponsors of this trip were : Muslim Association, Free life, No Limits organizations and even volunteers’ personal money is used to cover what is needed, and the trip expenses amounted to $ 67.000 .

If the British government or its people did not help Syrians, It’s our duty as Arabs and Muslims in Britain from a purely humanitarian motive to help Syrians in their unprecedented crisis of killing, shelling, starvation, and cold especially in the besieged areas , and we do not seek any praise , thanks, or fame from anyone. Maher said.

When asked about the volunteers’ nationalities he said: “We were seven, I and my friend are Syrians, and three Arabs and two Pakistani who did not speak Arabic nor knew anything about Syria but driven by their human feelings and what they have heard of killing and destruction.

These guys were not religious 100 %, Some of them are secular but motivated by their humanity ant not by religion nor politics.

They spent their days and nights driving to deliver aids, and they were convinced that any day of delay in delivery can cause someone’s death because the cars contained in addition to food, medical equipment and oxygen devices.

One of the memorable incidents in Europe, when people out of curiosity knew about our mission, they encouraged and prayed for us , and even were exempted from the so-called road tax in Greece when they knew that these are aid cars for Syria These positive attitudes encouraged us to continue our humanitarian work and lifted our spirits and we knew that we are on the right side of history, Maher said. 

This post was first appeared at EQTSAD; Translation by Dani Murad