Emotions ran high as donors, many with family ties to those affected by the Moroccan earthquake, gathered near Brussels to donate vital items.
Headlamps, sleeping bags, shampoo and nappies were all piled up to send to survivors of an earthquake in Morocco that has killed about 3,000 people.
The magnitude-6.8 quake on Friday evening affected several regions of the country, including the High Atlas Mountains.
“We're all human, this could happen to any of us,” said Hannache Abdellatif, a shopkeeper, as he donated several boxes containing 400 headlamps.
“We are afraid for them,” said one woman, who declined to give her name but revealed that her elderly mother – who lives in Agadir – had been forced to sleep outside without a tent.
The woman, in her 50s, was organising volunteers to collect her donations – fold-up beds, covers and mattresses – because she does not own a car.
“If everyone helps a little bit, it can do a lot,” said the woman, dabbing her eyes as she teared up.
She said that even four days after the earthquake, her relatives were still in shock.
“They're afraid of aftershocks,” she told The National.
Moroccans make up one of the largest migrant communities in Belgium.
Six mayors of municipalities in and around Brussels decided to set up the donation centre, a large shed near a canal in Anderlecht, a south-eastern municipality in the capital region.
Other municipalities have since joined in with the campaign.
The centre was launched on Tuesday and will remain open every day until the Belgian army decides the conditions are right to send the donations to Morocco, said Ridouane Chahid, the mayor of Evere.
“We aim first of all to collect tents, covers, sleeping bags, anything that helps people living in the mountains to get ready for winter,” he said.
Many Brussels residents were deeply affected by the earthquake, according to several mayors involved in setting up the centre.
“Some of my constituents have lost family members and in some cases have not heard from their parents, sisters or brothers since the earthquake,” said politician and mayor of Koekelberg, Ahmed Laaouej.
“The Moroccan community is very important in Belgium – it's the second biggest after Belgians of Italian origin,” said Mr Laaouej, himself of Moroccan origin.
“Emotions around me are very intense,” said Catherine Moureaux, the mayor of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.
“People are crying even if they don't have family there. It's a shock to discover that this kind of catastrophe can happen in Morocco.”
Some donations, including clothes and food, could not be accepted.
Retired construction worker Philippe Sosa had brought boots, shoes and bags, which he said he would donate elsewhere, though volunteers accepted his offer of a hygiene kit for children.
“We must share,” he said. “There's no point in throwing things out.”
Belgium's Development Co-operation Ministry has pledged €5 million [$5.4 million] for victims of the earthquake and to fund reconstruction, a sum which comes on top of smaller amounts offered by the country's various regions.
The ministry also offered to send rescue teams – though Rabat has yet to accept.
“It's up to Morocco to set the pace,” Mr Laaouej said.
“There is no point in rushing and creating logistical problems.”
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One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
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Javier Mascherano Accepted one-year suspended sentence in January 2016 for tax fraud after found guilty of failing to pay €1.5m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. Unlike Messi he avoided trial by admitting to tax evasion.
Angel di Maria Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star Angel di Maria was fined and given a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid. But he is unlikely to go to prison as is normal in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying sentence of less than two years.
SUSPECTED
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid's star striker, accused of evading €14.7m in taxes, appears in court on Monday. Portuguese star faces four charges of fraud through offshore companies.
Jose Mourinho Manchester United manager accused of evading €3.3m in tax in 2011 and 2012, during time in charge at Real Madrid. But Gestifute, which represents him, says he has already settled matter with Spanish tax authorities.
Samuel Eto'o In November 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought jail sentence of 10 years and fines totalling €18m for Cameroonian, accused of failing to pay €3.9m in taxes during time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009.
Radamel Falcao Colombian striker Falcao suspected of failing to correctly declare €7.4m of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while at Atletico Madrid. He has since paid €8.2m to Spanish tax authorities, a sum that includes interest on the original amount.
Jorge Mendes Portuguese super-agent put under official investigation last month by Spanish court investigating alleged tax evasion by Falcao, a client of his. He defended himself, telling closed-door hearing he "never" advised players in tax matters.
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