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Wednesday, 31 October 2007 |
The horror that has befallen innocent men, women and children in
Palestine needs no introduction.MERCY Malaysia, since its inception,
explored various ways and means to assist Palestinians in need.
With strong support from the public and government, MERCY Malaysia
attempted without much success to initiate a relief effort in November
2002. MERCY Malaysia’s 2002 Vice President Associate Professor Dr.
Azhar Abdul Aziz, entry application to the Occupied Palestinian
Territory was denied by the Israeli authorities.
Assessment Team to Palestine
 MERCY
Malaysia, with the cooperation of the famous Dr. Ang Swee Chai from
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) in London, then sent a volunteer to
Lebanon to assess the medical and humanitarian needs of the Palestinian
refugee community suffering from both the effects of the 1982 Israeli
invasion and the ongoing Lebanese civil war in March 2003.
MERCY Malaysia’s President Datuk Dr. Jemilah Mahmood and then Vice
President Associate Professor Dr. Azhar Abd Aziz successfully visited
Palestine from 12 to 17 July 2003. The trip was organized following an
invitation from the Palestinian for Human Perseverance (FATA)
organization and The Palestinian Foundation for Culture, Science &
Development (NASCD). The team’s visit was focused in the Gaza strip and
Rafah area. The aim of the visit to Palestine was to witness and have a
first hand account of the situation, understand the needs of the people
and ascertain areas in which MERCY Malaysia can assist. They also
visited the Ministry of Health, Al Shifa Hospital, The Gaza Children's
Hospital, Al Wafa Hospital, Al Azhar University, The Islamic University
and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
A Gift of Hope
 "A
Gift of Hope” project was inspired subsequently after the public
humanitarian lecture on 26 August 2003. It aims to create a better
environment for Palestinians and other underprivileged children in the
world to receive proper education materials such as school bags. It
also aims to inculcate the spirit of giving and sharing amongst
Malaysian children.
The child donor will sponsor school bags which carry messages of
friendship and hope. These messages will be written on booklets and
postcards and they will be packed into individual bags before sending
it to the children of Palestine, Malaysia and other countries where
MERCY Malaysia operates.
A pilot project was initiated with Sekolah Islam Al Adni November 2003
where MERCY Malaysia collected 37 booklets to be sent with the donated
school bags. The first consignments of 250 school bags arrived safely
in Palestine in early 2004 and have been distributed to the children.
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