More than 1,500 volunteers, men and women, are working round-the-clock to provide relief aid to the thousands of flood-hit people, east of Jeddah. Over a thousand volunteers have joined hands since the disaster struck the eastern side of the city last month to provide help at refugee centers. Another 500 volunteers have worked at Al-Harthi Exhibition Center on Madina Road to receive donations under the supervision of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). JCCI spokesman Ahmad Al-Ghamdi said "the volunteers are organized in a way that guarantees carrying out their tasks properly." The tasks include following up the daily updates of Civil Defense as where to dispatch relief aid at refugee centers, he said, noting that the aid is coming from businessmen, individuals and some companies whose support led to the distribution of more than 20,000 food baskets, clothes, cleaning equipment and other necessities. Some volunteers are working to collect and categorize production lines organized to prepare about 500 boxes (food baskets) per hour. Working hours start at 9 A.M. and end at 10 P.M., Al-Ghamdi said, adding charitable societies distribute the supplies to the affected at districts and refugee centers. Sources said the JCCI has approached the International Islamic Relief Organization in Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) to extend its help in the relief program. Although, sources said, the IIROSA has agreed to back the program, but has not presented any support so far. However, IIROSA head Dr. Adnan Basha said that about 50 people from the organization are assisting the affected and that its strategic reserve is being used to support the JCCI and other relief programs.
