PARIS –  Coming from across Europe to attend France’s largest Islamic conference, many Islamic charities occupied a prominent place at the Muslim event in Le Bourget city, north of Paris, and demonstrated a strong passion that have encouraged donors to offer help before Ramadan.

For the fifth straight appearance, Syrian Charity, one of the Muslim institutions attending the occasion, had a noticeable presence, as it focused on the plight of the Syrian people, and lack of ambulances.

“We focused on this issue because we have a severe lack of ambulances,” the charity president Mohammad Alolaiwy told Saphir News.

“They are systematically targeted. Four of them were bombed and destroyed. ”

Support for Syria was not limited to the charity.

In a final declaration the participants read at the close of the RAMF, the Union of Islamic organizations of France (UOIF) highlighted the Syrian conflict, calling on governments to take positions “clearer and firmer for a quick settlement of this tragedy.”

Organized by UOIF, Le Bourget, the largest Islamic conference in France, opened last Friday.

Themed “Together We make the Future”, the four-day conference discusses a host of topics of interest for the Muslim community in France.

The event highlighted the plight of the Syrian refugees, who are fleeing in thousands to Europe and other neighboring countries.

The Islamic Relief France also demonstrated a highly distinguishing role by offering visitors virtual immersion in the lives of the survivors of the war.

“Instead of making speeches surly heard ten times on TV, we have chosen to up facilities that involve the visitors use their senses, emotions and then to reason,” says Samira Alaoui, head of press relations at FIS.

As Ramadan approaches, the NGO reiterated the need for more volunteers to distribute 3,000 meals a day for a month and deliver food baskets to the homes of migrants.

In addition, the NGO, in partnership with the Muslim Students of France (EMF), will help to prepare fast breaking meal (iftar) in 25 cities.

Palestine Too

The Committee for Charity and Support for the Palestinians (CBSP) had also a noticeable presence in the fair, allocating a large space at the entrance to pay tributes to Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem).

Paintings and a model of the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, “which symbolizes the culture and the Palestinian history”, stood in the middle of the installation.

“The campaign of Ramadan is meant to distribute money to the Palestinian families living in distress so that they can provide fast and dignity of children gifts,” Mouloud Bouzidi, director of CBSP, said.

Le Bourget has become a fixture in the French calendar, a chance for Muslims to meet, hear speeches from intellectuals and scholars.

Thousands of Muslims came in droves to the annual gala, with a miscellany of books and items on display, attending lectures and vying in contests for the memorization of the Qur’an.

Thousands of Muslims from across Europe attend the annual activities, with young women in their unmistakable hijabs and enthusiastic young men making up the bulk of attendees.

France is home to some six to seven million Muslims, according to some official statistics, making them the largest Muslim minority in Europe.