Mercy Malaysia calls on NGOs to integrate humanitarian aid for Palestinians

By Mohd Noor Azery Idris

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 -- Mercy Malaysia has called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to integrate donations and humanitarian aid for the people of Palestine so as to ensure that it can be delivered directly to them.

Its president Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus said the assistance could be directed to organisations under the government, especially from organisations or associations that have no proper channel in Palestine.

“For new organisations that have no channels or representatives there or registered bank accounts, it will be better if they can coordinate and direct their assistance to funds set up by the government. That will be more beneficial and organised,” he said in an interview with Bernama TV here, today.

In addition, he said these new NGOs could also collaborate with specific NGOs that raise funds and assistance for Palestinians to ensure that food and medical supplies are not cut off, especially during this dire situation following the atrocities committed by the Israeli regime on the Palestinians.

To ensure the continuity of assistance from Malaysia, Dr Ahmad Faizal said Mercy Malaysia and other NGOs such as Aman Palestin and Yayasan Al-Quds always play the role to convey information on the needs of the Palestinian people to the public.

He added that mental health and psychosocial support were among the three main assistance provided by Mercy Malaysia to the people in Palestine, which aimed at reducing the stress and impact of the war, especially on children and women.

“We have been providing psychosocial and mental health support since 2009, especially in Gaza. We will extend this assistance to Jerusalem and the West Bank,” he explained.

Dr Ahmad Faizal said previously, the psychosocial support was provided directly by trained Mercy Malaysia team members in Palestine but currently, it was done online by teams in Malaysia.

Mercy Malaysia has been providing medical and humanitarian assistance to Palestine since 2008 but the current COVID-19 situation had limited their movements, thus forcing them to mobilise the humanitarian mission through its representative in Gaza.

-- BERNAMA