Bradford fundraiser Nazim Ali on his visit to refugee camps

Those are the stark words of a tireless Bradford fundraiser who visited refugee camps to distribute parcels for Ramadan.

Nazim Ali, from Manningham, has raised more than £800,000 for charity in the last decade.

Earlier this month, he visited Palestinian and Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon, along with the Dewsbury-based SKT Welfare charity, to help those in need.

The first three days were spent in camps in Beirut, Tripoli, and Baalbek, while the final two days were spent at a camp in Aarsal, close to the Syrian border city of Homs.

The 11-strong team from the UK raised nearly £200,000 - £26,060 which was raised by Nazim.

The team that visited the refugee camps in Lebanon (Image: Submitted)

They distributed 3,800 Ramadan food parcels; 2,800kg of dates; 4,000kg of fruit; 2,660 hygiene packs, 3,500 hot meal iftars (the meal that breaks a fast during Ramadan) as well as sweets and toys.

The annual rent was paid for nearly 60 tents and zakat (almsgiving) in cash.

“Whilst food parcels will provide short-term relief in the month of Ramadan, they fail to address the real issues being faced in their daily struggle for something permanent,” said Nazim.

He said the time pressure to donate food parcels and other items left little time for reflection or discussion, but, he said: “The look in people's faces tells much without the need for a spoken word.”

Nazim pictured with children in one of the camps (Image: Submitted)

“What is most striking in these dusty arid mountainous camps is the people's belief remains resolute, they cling onto hope, for that is all they have," added Nazim.

“We ended each day by giving out sweets, milkshakes, and toys to children - a smile on their faces helps check all other emotions we experience in the day.

“All of the volunteers self-funded the humanitarian aid trip covering our very own flight, hotel, transport, and food costs so 100 per cent of donations go towards the food parcels.”

Nazim spoke movingly about what he witnessed in the camps (Image: Submitted)

Nazim thanked Haji Shiraz Ahmed, the CEO of his corporate sponsor, Bradford-based SaveCo, for ongoing support.

He also thanked Arome on Leeds Road for its support - £1,500 was raised from a day of giving in February.

Toys were handed out (Image: Submitted)

Nazim added: “I am grateful to SKT Welfare & Muzy Hussain for organising an amazing deployment.

“I have worked with them since 2015 and have been on almost a dozen deployments with them in the last nine years.”

He thanked all those who donated money and spoke of his immense gratitude.

“My initial target was £7,500 & I raised a staggering £26,060 which was 3.5 times more,” said Nazim.