DEARBORN — Arab Americans raised about $70,000 for Somalis during a fundraising dinner at Byblos Banquet Hall on Tuesday, and donations are still expected. Today, people living in the Horn of Africa are suffering from the region’s worst drought in 60 years with nearly 12 million people affected by food shortages. 

“This is a humanitarian tragedy of unspeakable dimensions,” said Consul General of Lebanon in Detroit, Houssam Diab. The United Nations has declared child malnutrition rates at an alarming number in Somalia. 

Cindy Berry, her husband and community leader Sir Michael Berry, Consul of Lebanon in Detroit Bachir Tawk, Consul General of Lebanon in Detroit Houssam Diab, and Byblos Banquets founder Joe Bazzi chat after the Somalia fundraiser. More than $70,000 was raised to help dig a massive water well system that could provide fresh water for about 50,000 people in Mogadishu. PHOTO: Nafeh AbuNab/TAAN

Diab says an estimated 2.8 million people in southern Somalia face starvation.  The famine has spread to parts of Kenya and Ethiopia too. 

He said the Arab community in Michigan and specifically in Dearborn has proved by their actions and presence at the fundraiser that they will stand beside the oppressed and afflicted regardless of race, religion or sect.  

“What makes a person a true Muslim is when he reaches out to others,” said Islamic Center of America religious leader, Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini. The money raised at the fundraiser will be used to dig fresh water wells in Mogadishu, Somalia for about 50,000 people. The charity Medrar will be digging the wells, and those who donated money towards the cause will receive information on where the new wells are located. 

Former Fordson Principal Imad Fadlallah, who emceed the event, highlighted Medrar’s commitment to helping impoverished people in other regions of the world including Mali, Niger, and Palestine among others. The foundation was founded to cater to the less fortunate around the world deprived of food, clean water and basic nutritional requirements. 

In a touching speech Najah Bazzy of Zaman International said hunger is man-made and poverty is not God made.  “But we as human beings, our nature is greedy, and while we eat plenty on our tables, others have very little. The problem is human inequity,” Bazzy said.  She says about 13.3 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya have been officially displaced. “What’s happening there is really beyond our human comprehension.” She says we all have a choice about what we can do when we see devastation, and that is either standing still or taking action. 

Bazzy is certain the donations will have impact on the ground. “I know the business man who will be overseeing this is going to make sure every single nickel, dime and penny is spent in a resource allocation that is fruitful for the people of Somalia,” Bazzy said. She says ending the water shortage will  stop the famine, and her organization chose to focus on lactating mothers who are nursing babies because as sad as it is, you can save two lives instead of one. 

In Dearborn the Lebanese American Heritage Club Youth Leadership Committee started a fundraising drive for Somalis and raised $4,000 in a short period of time.  Once every dollar was matched a total of  $121,000 was raised. Speaking at the event a member of the Committee, Hussein Hachem, said the youth had nothing but an abundance of potential and hope to challenge the impossible and make a difference in the lives of needy people. 

Diab said the office of the Consul General of Lebanon is in the process of establishing a fund. The sole purpose of it will be to empower the Lebanese American community in all 14 states that are in the jurisdiction of the Consul General. It will fund projects that show the great potential and real image of Lebanese Americans by involving them in social, educational and humanitarian efforts. 

Speaking to the crowd Hassanaim Rajabali, Director of Camp Taha, said a majority of the human race does not have the privilege or capacity to help people at the level that many Americans do.

He said awareness on the Somali crisis is critical at all levels, and in several cases the resources needed to help impoverished people around the world are blocked from reaching them for political reasons.  

When addressing the crowd Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News spoke about the founder of Medrar, Hajj Abdullah Berri whose father Nabih Berri is the speaker of Lebanon’s parliament. 

He recalled being contacted by Hajj Abdullah on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr, one of the most  celebrated Islamic holidays, and while he knows Berri had the status and the financial means to spend this holiday with his family anywhere in the world, he instead decided to  risk his life and spend it in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia or best known as the ‘capital of death’ and help the Somali people that are facing hunger, thirst and famine, by distibuting 40 tons of food and digging up water wells to provide fresh drinking water. “This is the man that heads Medrar. I trust him with my money, he put his life in danger and took the risk of doing the ultimate service to humanity,” Siblani said. Berri also told Siblani that the impoverished people needed help from Arab and Muslim Americans. 

Siblani also cited a quote to the audience from civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. that reads: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘what are you doing for others.’’ “Helping your family, your relatives or the people of the country or the region you came from is noble, but expected. But, reaching out to people in need from another continent is moving to a different level of giving. Today I’m proud of what we have accomplished,” Siblani concluded. He also thanked organizers of the fundraiser including businessman Ali Jawad, Diab and pharmacist Jihad Fadallah. To help the Medrar foundation visit www.medrar.org.ib