Kuala Lumpur, 30 December 2008 - MERCY Malaysia will be deploying a team comprising medical surgeons and logistics personnel to Egypt in response to the humanitarian needs resulting from the recent Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed more than 300 people and wounded more than 1500 people.

This team, aimed at conducting a rapid assessment of the humanitarian needs, will be led by MERCY Malaysia President Datuk Dr. Jemilah Mahmood and Executive Council Member Norazam Ab Samah. They will be based at the Egyptian border town of Rafah to put together a logistic pipeline that will ensure that aid will be channelled to the proper parties in Gaza. 

The team will leave Kuala Lumpur for Egypt tonight.

“MERCY Malaysia has the advantage of having reliable partners who are already based in Gaza and this will help expedite the aid that we will provide,” said Dr. Jemilah. 

“One of  these partners is the UK-based NGO called Medical Aid for Palestinians – United Kingdom (MAP-UK). Through its office in Gaza, efforts have already begun to procure emergency surgical kits. MAP-UK's field officer in Gaza is working with the largest local hospital, Al-Shifa, to meet its overwhelming needs. However, the situation is, at best, bleak," Dr. Jemilah said.

“We are also working closely with Al-Ahli Arab Hospital which has received aid from us before. Al-Ahli is a Christian-based hospital. As such we are hoping it will not be a primary target for attack.”

 “We are monitoring the situation closely and in communication with other organisations in the region.  There has been a request for specialised surgeons to be based at the Egyptian border and we are answering that need by recruiting our volunteers who will be on standby for deployment,” she added. 

Following Dec 28 attacks, the hospitals ran out of space in its morgue, and has been forced to place the dead along its corridors and outside on the streets. Hospital wards are not only overwhelmed by the number of patients but are in dire need of resources including morphine, alcohol and plastic gloves.

At the same time, Dr Jemilah urged the Hamas to exercise restraint. “We also urge the world leaders and the United Nations Security Council to step up and demand a ceasefire on both sides," she said. 

So far,one United Nations Relief worker and eight trainees are among the casualties reported. 62 women and children were also confirmed killed and the number was likely higher.

“We condemn this collective punishment on the people of Palestine. We are very concerned about the humanitarian impact this action has caused,” Dr. Jemilah said.  

END