KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) today entered Gaza, Palestine, through the Rafah border crossing in Egypt to deliver humanitarian aid to the people there.
According to the volunteer association, the mission this time is the first humanitarian mission allowed to enter through the Rafah border since Mercy Malaysia’s last working visit in 2014.
“Among the programmes to be conducted by Mercy Malaysia includes the delivery of food aid and winter amenities to families, the holding of a workshop on ‘Sustainable Hospital’ at the Islamic University of Gaza and a psychosocial programme for society,” the association said in a statement today.
Mercy Malaysia will also launch the Al Amal Centre Building, a psychosocial centre and a school for children with disabilities as well as a new laboratory for the Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, each worth US$200,000 (RM884,000).
The mission was led by the Malaysian Ambassador to Egypt and Palestine Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, who was accompanied by two embassy officers and Mercy Malaysia director of Programme Development and Operations, Norazam Ab Samah.
Mercy Malaysia has channelled US$18 million into Gaza since 2008, being the contributions of concerned Malaysians.
In July 2014, the Israeli army launched a large scale operation known as “Protective Edge” in the Gaza Strip, targeting residential areas, as well as the schools and shops of Palestinians that resulted in many innocent civilians becoming victims.