BAHRAINI youths have raised more than BD25,000 for Muslim refugees in Myanmar.

The amount was collected through the Bahrain for Arakan movement, which was spearheaded by humanitarian activist Mohammed Ali, who has been drumming up support for the campaign through Twitter, where it was trending as #BH4Arakan.

The Bahrainis exceeded their initial target of BD20,000 through donations, a fundraising event and online campaigns to aid the refugees in Myanmar - also known as Burma - amidst sectarian violence following decades of abuse and persecution.

The initiative gained momentum after Mr Ali pledged to personally donate BD1 for every new follower he gained on Twitter earlier this month.

He was recorded to have gained 300 new followers and personally donated BD300 to the cause.

Meanwhile, the group has also raised thousands of dinars to set up a medical clinic for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

The Bahrain 4 Syria youth movement held fundraising campaigns in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain - each of which donated the collected money for a specific foundation.

"The Syria campaign was a GCC wide campaign," said Mr Ali. "Bahrain is responsible for building a hospital in Lebanon - on the borders of Syria.

"Kuwait was in charge of funding for food and clothing and Saudi Arabia was in charge of the accommodation."

Volunteering Bahraini doctor Eman Murad was among the medical team sent from Bahrain to help in the building of the hospital in Lebanon. "A health centre will be upgraded to a hospital by adding an operation theatre," she added.

"We also visited Syrian refugee families in Antakya, Turkey.

"It was a new and nice experience and I am very grateful for it."

badriya@gdn.com.bh