Donation drive to renovate Arab homes in Jerusalem collects JD450,000

AMMAN — The fourth phase of the Jordan Engineers Association’s (JEA) initiative to renovate Arab homes in the Old City of Jerusalem has so far collected up to JD450,000 in donations, JEA President Abdullah Obeidat said Wednesday.

“The donations will be used to renovate 10 houses, a measure that will solve the problems of families under the threat of displacement due to the poor housing conditions,” Obeidat told The Jordan Times over the phone.

The donation drive, which continues all year, seeks to preserve the Arab identity of Jerusalem and support the resistance of its Arab inhabitants against the Israeli occupation, he said. 

“Engineers working at the association’s office in Jerusalem will carry out the renovations,” Obeidat said, adding that the year-long campaign witnessed wide participation among women and university students, who are aware of the dangers facing Jerusalem’s old houses.

The JEA’s previous donation campaigns have funded 27 renovation projects for 42 houses in the Old City of Jerusalem, serving some 200 families, the JEA president said.

This year’s drive collected around JD30,000 and some pieces of gold jewellery contributed by students at the University of Jordan (UJ), according to Osama Jamal, representative of the Jerusalem committee at the UJ student union.

“We coordinated with the JEA to collect donations on campus… our 150 active members from all faculties spread the message among their friends and colleagues,” Jamal told The Jordan Times.

He noted that the donation campaign, which also aimed to educate students on the threats facing Jerusalem, witnessed “wide” contribution by students.