Souq.com initiates charity to help ease Lebanese suffering

All proceeds will be donated to support relief programs in Lebanon operated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

"The whole world is witnessing the pain and suffering of innocent civilians caught up in a looming humanitarian catastrophe," said Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO of Souq.com. "It is our heartfelt wish for the UAE community; both individuals and businesses to support the victimized Lebanese people. For its part Souq.com is offering an alternative method to maximize the useful value of all donations."

The Souq.com Appeal Page can be accessed via the home page or directly at http://www.souq.com/lebanon/. The page lists a variety of options in which visitors can support the innocent victims, both through donations and bidding on donated items.

Any member of the general public interested in donating an item for charity can visit the Appeal Page. Souq.com will arrange pick-up of the pledged item from the donor's listed address. The auction will appear on the homepage under the Charity Auctions section in the name of the donor. All fees are waived for charity auctions.

Souq.com is also supporting Al Aqariya TV's "Maak Ya Lebnan" campaign and interested individuals can make a donation into one of three bank accounts of the Red Crescent Society for UAE. Bank details are listed on the website.

"We would like to urge everyone to donate money, clothing, blankets, dry foodstuff and medication directly to the Red Crescent Societies," said Sameh Lutfi, the Marketing Manager of Souq.Com. "Our role as Souq.Com is to convert the items that are of no use in the field to the Red Crescent, to liquid cash which can be used more readily."

In a bid to highlight donors' generosity and Souq.com's transparency, a list of donors and their contribution will be posted on the website.