MERCY Malaysia Surveys Damage in Gaza Strip; Propose Projects

KUALA LUMPUR, FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY 2009 – A team of MERCY Malaysia medical specialists surveying the damage in the Gaza Strip following a three-week Israeli attack are working at Shahid Annajar Hospital.

The team of 8 medical specialists who have surveyed the area in and around Rafah have found that most health infrastructure and facilities have been severely damaged.

The 8 medical volunteers have proposed several potential projects that MERCY Malaysia can undertake at the Shahid Annajar Hospital.

“We are considering several options at the Shahid Annajar Hospital, including building and equipping a rehabilitation unit,” MERCY Malaysia Acting President Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus said.

Another suggestion proposed to MERCY Malaysia was to support an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Rafah for six months, which MERCY Malaysia is also considering.

On Jan 22, MERCY Malaysia sent a team of 6 medical specialists into Gaza. They then joined two colleagues already inside Gaza to conduct the assessment.

“In times of emergencies, the situation is very fluid. Changes happen almost every other minute, thus, it is difficult to confirm exactly what we want to do and where we want to work,” Dr Faizal explained.

He added that where MERCY Malaysia chose to work depended on the people’s needs, the amount of funding available and access to the affected area, among other variables.

“Right now, our team in Gaza is working very hard to identify where and how we can help and we expect our plans to be formalised soon,” said Dr Faizal.

The conflict in the Gaza Strip, which began on Dec 27, escalated over three weeks, killing thousands and injuring even more.

To date, MERCY Malaysia has sent in medical supplies and medicines worth USD 400,000 including sedative agents, antibiotics intravenous solutions, pain killers, as well as a variety of surgical and medical equipment.

Dr Faizal said that MERCY Malaysia was considering procuring ventilators, orthopaedic apparatus and ultrasound machines as the current demand is for more sophisticates surgical sets.

MERCY Malaysia has been able to work for the Gaza survivors because of the generous contributions of the Malaysian public.

Please continue to donate to the Palestine Relief Fund through MERCY Malaysia. For CIMB users, make cheques payable to MERCY Malaysia through account number 1424-000-6561053. MAYBANK users may make cheques out to MERCY HUMANITARIAN FUND at account number 5621-7950-4126. Please indicate “Palestine Relief Fund” on the back of the cheque.

For more information, please contact the Communications and Fundraising Department at 03-2273 3399 or Hana Kamaruddin at 019-3040420 or log on to www.mercy.org.my .