COVID: 33,000 euros collected in Marseille to finance oxygen concentrators for Algeria and Tunisia

La mosquée du marché aux puces dans le 15e arrondissement de Marseille a organisé une collecte de dons du 31 juillet au 15 août. Cet argent doit permettre d’acheter des concentrateurs d’oxygène pour l'Algérie et la Tunisie. Les deux pays sont très touchés par la pandémie de coronavirus.

Algeria and Tunisia are going through a nightmarish summer.Since the end of June, the two countries have been hit hard by a third wave of coronavirus.The Delta variant is at the origin of this epidemic rebound.

Right in front of the Maghreb, in Marseille, initiatives have been multiplying for a few weeks.This is the case with the Al-Islah mosque on the flea market.She organized a collection of donations from July 31 to August 15, 2021.

"People were sensitive to this initiative. Everyone gave what they can. In addition, in Marseille the majority of the population is relatively poor," said Azzedine Ainouche one of the two imams of the mosque.

For the last day of donations, the mosque chose a Sunday.Traditional day for the inhabitants of the northern districts of Marseille, used to frequenting this place.Every Sunday, the market is black in people, it is even difficult to make your way in the aisles.

The Muslim place of worship is in the middle of a shopping street.The stand for donation collection is installed in front of this building.

That morning, thousands of people came to do their shopping or find good deals.Here clothes, hygienic products or food are sold at reduced prices.The slightest article can be negotiated.

Passing the "Urgent COVVI-19 Algeria/Tunisia" signs "markets on the market stop and do not hesitate to give money.

"It was important to me to help Algeria and Tunisia. I think of people affected and hospitalized in these two countries," said a mother, surrounded by her children.Drown, she puts her right hand on her heart when she talks about this solidarity action.

Like every weekend, all kinds of people are present, couples, families or even the elderly.

Sometimes fathers give parts or tickets to their sons so that they put them in the two cases of this collection.The imam and the other organizers of the event thank them smiling.

The benefactors were able to give money by various means (online on the mosque site, by check or in cash).In total, 33,000 euros were collected.The Imam of the Al-Islah mosque estimates this slightly mixed result but it puts perspective.

"We hoped to collect between 40 and 45,000 euros in donations. The positive point is that there have been many similar initiatives from everywhere in France to help Algeria and Tunisia. So people who haveNot participated in this collection, surely gave money to other associations ", analyzes Azzedine Ainouche.

Algerian by birth, he has lived in France for forty years.He has been an imam of this 15th mosque for over ten years.

Solidarity between Muslims

Algeria and Tunisia are Muslim countries.Almost all of their population practices this religion.In Marseille, the Algerian and Tunisian diaspora is really important.

The photos and videos of the catastrophic situation in the two countries have toured social networks.

Seeing these images, the two diasporas quickly mobilized to support their country."Today my Nordine son and I have made a donation to help our family in Algeria. But it is also to be united with our Muslim brothers and sisters," said Karima, a sixty -something.

Distribution in Algeria and Tunisia

The Al-Islah mosque of the Marseille flea market is the only organizer of this donation collection.The total sum will be entrusted to two partner associations, one in Marseille, the other in Lille.

The two associations will take care of the purchase of oxygen concentrators, between 500 and 1,500 euros per unit depending on the model, and their shipping to the two countries.These two organizations are used to doing this kind of operation.Since the start of the pandemic, they have sent medical equipment to their respective country.