This archive report was first published on 5 November 2021.
November 5, 2021, marked a remarkable day for humanitarian efforts in the Middle East as Somali YouTuber AboFlah, whose real name is Hassan Suleiman, raised $1 million in just over a day to aid refugees and the displaced in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan.
With nearly 21 million followers, AboFlah is one of the most influential figures in the Arab world. He initially gained fame through his video game review site, which he launched in 2016.
His campaign, dubbed 'Warm Their Hearts,' was launched in coordination with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and saw an overwhelming response from his followers. 'This is all thanks to my followers... thank you all with all my heart,' AboFlah said in an interview with AFP on Wednesday.
The funds collected by AboFlah are expected to provide essential aid, including food, clothing, and heating fuel, to over 17,000 people as winter approaches. Nasreen Rabiean, the UNHCR representative in Kuwait, praised the initiative, highlighting the 'spirit of shared responsibility and solidarity' demonstrated by AboFlah and his followers.
