Palestinian NGO worker names daughter 'Singapore' in appreciation of help from S'poreans

A newborn Palestinian girl in Gaza has been named Singapore, believed to be a first in the territory, in celebration of the help delivered by the non-governmental organisation Love Aid Singapore.

First child named Singapore

In an Instagram post shared by Love Aid Singapore’s founder, Gilbert Goh, one of the NGO’s staff spoke with Hamdan Hadad, a worker at the NGO’s aid kitchen.

In the video, it is explained that Hamdan was touched by Love Aid’s help and the contribution that had been made by many Singaporeans.

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A post shared by Gilbert Goh (@loveaidsg)

That aid had gone into providing cooked meals for Palestinians in Gaza, which has undergone nearly two years of uninterrupted violence as the war between Gaza and Israel has gone on.

The child, Singapore, was born on Oct. 16, after the establishment of a ceasefire, which saw an exchange of captives between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

While the immediate violence has dropped off sharply, the entire area is still in desperate need of aid.

Appreciation

Speaking in Arabic, Hamdan said that he had worked for Love Aid for two years, and had named his daughter Singapore to show his appreciation for the aid that had been provided.

He said that his wife had survived amidst famine because she had been able to eat from the Singaporean kitchen when she was pregnant.

The video presenter excitedly related that the girl was the first Palestinian child to be named Singapore, showing off the child's birth certificate as proof.

Hamdan's family was also presented some money to help with expenses.

Right side of humanity

The post on Love Aid Singapore’s Instagram channel, which is also Singaporean activist Gilbert Goh’s channel, thanked Singaporeans for “standing on the right side of humanity with me all this while”.

Goh has been active in Syria and Gaza for over two years.

During the Gaza-Israel war of the past two years, he has been raising funds and operating kitchens in both the North and South of Gaza.

The account shares many videos of food distribution efforts in a number of places, and long lines of people being fed by the NGO’s efforts.

Generous and focused

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in June this year, Goh said that Love Aid Singapore had started as a “one-man NGO” but has since raised S$5.3 million from regular Singaporeans.

Goh, in his postings, said that the NGO had not received money from Singapore’s government, and told ABC that “(Singapore is) small, we are generous, we are very focused.”

“I think we can do wonders in the humanitarian world”, and that Palestinians in Gaza needed hope, and that providing displaced people with “some sense of normality” was important, and that “Singaporeans are there for you, we have your back”.

In the post announcing Singapore’s birth, Love Aid Singapore wished her “good health” and that “ a bright new world will welcome her soon, with the prospect of a permanent ceasefire”.

Top image via loveaidsg/Instagram