MRCS Needs RM300,000 For Gaza Aid

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) still needs RM300,000 for aid to be channelled to Palestinian victims of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
MRCS chairman, Tunku Tan Sri Shahriman Tunku Sulaiman, said the money was needed to buy medicines, kitchen equipment, blankets, daily essential items, sleeping bags and food for about 1,000 victims.
"MRCS hopes that the public, non-governmental organisations and corporate bodies would contribute financial aid so we can provide aid quickly," he told reporters at the MRCS headquarters here today.
Tunku Shahriman said since Jan 7, the society had only collected RM25,000 through its 'MRCS International Relief Fund' and the amount was far from the RM350,000 needed.
MRCS had sent a medical team to the Gaza Strip to help Palestinians and the Palestine Red Crescent Society on Jan 10 and it succeeded in entering Rafah through the Egypt-Gaza border crossing on Jan 13.
The two-member team comprised medical officer, Dr Yahaya Abu Ahmad and a relief and logistics officer, Nasir Khan Abdul Rahman, and it entered the Gaza Strip on Jan 20 and returned to Malaysia on Jan 24.
Meanwhile, Nasir Khan said MRCS could send its second medical team anytime and it would comprise seven members made up of two doctors, three medical officers and two nurses.
"The date has not been set but MRCS targets two weeks from now, depending on public response," he said.
He said while in Gaza, the MRCS cooperates with the International Red Cross Society and the Egyptian Red Cross to treat victims at the Military Hospital in Al-Arish, 40km from Rafah.
"Our observation is humanitarian aid, including medicines and daily essential items, is very much needed.
"Many victims stay in camps. It is cold, clean water is limited and cost of food has gone up by three to four times," he said, adding that MRCS would concentrate on women and children who were homeless and some badly injured.
"We also plan to give artificial limbs to 350 victims, have adoption projects, provide physiotherapy, in the future all amounting to RM1.7 million.
"In all we need RM3.6 million," Nasir Khan.

People can send their contributions through Maybank account number 5144 2210 2657 or make out cheques to the "MRCS International Relief Fund" and written at the back should be 'GAZA CITY'.