A donation center at the community service office of Niujie community, a compact area inhabited by the Hui nationality, have received large sums of donation in the past days since its establishment decades ago.

The donated money will be used to help the people lived in the devastated areas of countries hit by the strong tsunamis late last month.

"The people of both the Han and Hui nationalities here are really concerned about the situation out there," said Zhang Jiahong, head of the service office.

He said most of the donated money came from families or individuals. Some people donated more than 1,000 yuan (125 US dollars). The sum is about half the average monthly income of ordinary Beijing residents.

"For the Muslims, helping the people in need is both one of the religious activities of obligation nature that we should conduct, "said Li Dongwen, an Imam with the Niujie Mosque.

"Some countries hit by the tidal waves are Muslim countries. As Chinese Muslims, we should offer our hands to help them," he said.

On hearing the tsunamis, the Islamic Association of China expressed its condolences over the heavy loss of lives and property to the countries ravaged.

Source: Xinhua