COVA, a national network working
for communal harmony, peace and social justice is also collaborating with UNHCR
(United Nations High Commission for Refugees) since 2010 to provide legal
protection and facilitate support for survival and development to about 2000
refugees from 11 countries residing in Hyderabad. Refugees from Burma
constitute the largest population with about 1500 members. Remaining 300
refugees are from Somalia, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Syria and
Yemen.
During last Ramazan, many
Hyderabadis came forward to distribute Zakat to the refugees generously that
greatly helped them. However, as there was no organised way for distribution of
Zakat, a number of serious problems were encountered. First, some of the active
and able bodied persons were able to grab most of the Zakat that was brought
for distribution while many others, including widows and aged persons, received
very less and were deprived. This also led to fights among refugees leading to
injuries and resulting in police cases. Most importantly, the refugees who go
for work as labour stopped going to work during last Ramazan waiting for people
who were coming to distribute Zakat at different times of the day and lost
their daily wages amounting to Rs. 300 to 350. Finally, refugees from Burma are
residing in different localities like Hafeez Babanagar, Balapur, Kishan Bagh,
Sastripuram, Lal Dabha, No.9 and Shaheen Nagar etc and as people were bringing
Zakat for distribution mostly in Balapur area due to the media publicity it
received, refugees residing in other areas did not receive anything.
Considering all these and other
problems being faced by refugees, COVA has facilitated the constitution of a
Rohingya Refugees Committee comprising of refugee representatives from different
localities and selected by the refugees themselves through a wide consultative
process. This Rohingya Refugees Committee has already started work and is
successfully settling and resolving minor disputes that arise among refugees
from time to time and provide other support for livelihood, education etc. This
Committee is also authorised by the refugees to collect all Zakat and other
donations, give receipts to the donors and distribute all the material received
to all the families equally once a week on every Sunday.
Donors are also invited to be present on Sundays at the time of distribution to
gauge and contribute to the propriety of the process.
Refugees, especially from Burma,
are in a very bad situation and deserve whatever help that can be provided. But
in order to ensure that all the refugees receive support equally and there are
no disputes and fights during distribution, we appeal to all philanthropists to
approach and use the services of the Rohingya Refugee Committee for fair distribution
of donation and Zakat.
Address and contact number of the
Rohingya Refugee Committee donations and zakat collection Centre is:
Beside Al Hira School, Dargah Shareef Balapur, Hyderabad
500 005. Mobile No.9391148966
Mazher Husssain
Executive Director
COVA
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