Qatar’s Aleppo fundraiser collects over $650 million in first six hours

Nation cancels national day celebrations in solidarity with people of Aleppo

A charity drive for the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo in Qatar has raised over $650 million in its initial six hours.

Leading charity organisations came together on December 16 in Darb El Saai area to garner support for the people of the besieged city. The event was broadcast live on Qatar TV as well as Al Rayyan.

The campaign came in the wake of the Persian Gulf state's decision to cancel national day celebrations in solidarity with the people of Aleppo.



“We will continue receiving donations as long as people donate. There is no specific time frame”, an official from the organising committee said.

Organisations taking part in the drive include Qatar Charity, Eid Charity, Qatar Red Crescent Society, Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) and Afif Charity.

Hundred boxes have been placed in Darb El Saai, with each participating organisation allocating 20 boxes for the purpose. Some of the boxes have started receiving donations, official added.



On Monday, AFP reported that dozens of buses entered Aleppo to resume evacuations, but plans were called off at the last minute after gunmen attacked vehicles for a similar operation from two rebel-besieged villages.

Aleppo has seen some of the worst violence of the near six-year Syrian civil war that has left over 310,000 people dead.

This article originally appeared on The Peninsula Online.