Brooklyn’s Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities yesterday joined together to spearhead a drive to ship a growing number of large containers filled clothing and health and medical supplies to war-torn Yemen.
The effort comes as Yemen, located on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, faces its biggest crisis in decades with the overthrow of its government by the Houthis, a Shia movement, which prompted a Saudi-led counteroffensive. The fighting has had devastating humanitarian consequences with over 3 million Yemenis suffering from malnutrition and Cholera outbreaks.
“American and international leaders need to held accountable for the horrific things that are happening in Yemen and stop procrastinating, and heed the cry and needs of the millions of Yemenis who are suffering. The devastation in Yemen have led to a level of extreme subhuman conditions,” said Mark Meyer Appel, founder and president of The Bridge Multicultural Project (BMP),1894 Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush.
The BMP is taking an increasingly advocacy role in both international relief efforts around the world such as the hurricane relief efforts recently in Haiti and Puerto Rico, as well as being a center for local elected officials, clergy and arts and civic organizations to hold events bringing together all the different cultures and religions.
For the Yemen relief effort, BMP has partnered with the Yemeni American Association of New York (YAANY), the Yemeni Woman’s Association, the Brooklyn Young Democrats and the Rabbinical Alliance of America. The relief effort kickoff occurred throughout the day yesterday at the BMP offices where suitcases and bags of clothes and health and medical supplies literally filled the downstairs event room.
“Remember, helping one person might not change the world, but it could change that person’s whole world,” said Yasmeen Atef, founder of the Yemeni Women’s Association.
Abdonasser Almamary and Fadel M. Alamamy, who initiated the drive, proclaimed it to being a huge success.
“Being from Yemen, we are so proud of this diverse group gathered here in time of need. Christians, rabbis, Muslims standing together in unity proclaiming, enough is enough,” they said in a joint statement.
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, vice president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, praised the project as a community helping God’s holy work. “As a Rabbi, I am proud to stand with people of all religious faiths in calling out for this very important mission of mercy,” He said.
Brooklyn Young Democrats President John Wasserman praised the drive as a very important humanitarian issue , and called for all to lend their voices and address this international tragedy.
