An Islamic charity has raised over £126,000 to support Rohingya refugees fleeing military violence in Myanmar.
A party from the Slough Islamic Trust is due to travel to Bangladesh on Sunday to purchase essential items for the refugee camps along the Bangladesh border.
They are being lead by chairman of the Slough Islamic Trust, Sufi Muhammad Afzal, 80, of Belgrave Road, Slough.
Mr Afzal said: “I want to help the Rohingya people being forced from Myanmar. The media is turning a blind eye to it. When I was fundraising in the High Street, I found many people didn’t know what was happening.”
Mr Afzal helped raise the hundreds of thousands of pounds with support from the local community, and intends to deliver the aid to the refugees personally. He has been chairman of the mosque for last 50 years, and has involved himself in charity projects for much of that time.
“I have been doing charity jobs since 1964. When you work honestly, people have faith their money is not being wasted.”
Mr Afzal is currently experiencing health issues, but said: “I’m not medically fit, but every penny must reach deserving people.
“We will see what we can do with the money; learn the needs of the the people, and buy according to that to supply their needs.”
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