Women’s Involvement In Humanitarian Missions Not Merely Symbolic - Farah Lee

By Ummu Khalidah Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Women’s involvement in humanitarian missions is not just symbolic, but a strategic necessity, especially in conflict zones involving children and single mothers, who are the most affected groups.

Humanitarian activist Nurfarahin Romli, 32, better known as Farah Lee, said the natural compassion and gentleness of women gave them a unique advantage in comforting victims who were traumatised and in need of emotional support.

“The gentle nature of women allows us to connect naturally with children. When we (women) interact with them, they quickly become comfortable, which makes it easier for us to console and provide moral support.

“From my experience in humanitarian missions in Syria and Afghanistan, there were single mothers who felt uncomfortable meeting male activists.

‘So it was we, the women, who reached out to them, delivered aid, and provided assistance,” she said while sharing her experience from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission to Gaza in an interview with Bernama Radio here today.

Commenting on the participation of married women, Farah, who is also chief executive officer of Pertubuhan Kebajikan FL, said every individual was chosen for their expertise and capacity to contribute.

“I was selected because of my previous experience in humanitarian work and my ability to leverage social media. With a large follower base, I was able to help spread the mission’s message more widely than my husband.

“I’ve been active in international humanitarian missions since 2018, even when I was still a single mother. My current husband understands and accepts that humanitarian work is part of my life,” she said.

During the interview, Farah Lee also shared the challenges she faced when she was kidnapped and detained by Zionist soldiers, including being denied her right to practise religion when her headscarf and those of other hijab-wearing volunteers were forcibly removed. They were also denied medical care and access to basic women’s needs.

At the same time, she stressed that her sharing of humanitarian mission experiences was not meant for publicity, as claimed by some, but rather to give Malaysians a closer understanding of the real suffering of the Palestinian people.

“By sharing our experience, Malaysians can better grasp the hardships endured by the Palestinians, even if only a fraction of it. This is important to inspire greater awareness and collective support in freeing the country from Israeli occupation.

“As a mother, I also try to teach my daughter, Mariam, about empathy, courage, and compassion for global suffering. I’ve brought her along on missions, such as to the Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, so that she can understand the importance of humanitarian work, and hopefully, become a volunteer herself one day,” she said.

Farah also expressed hope that the wave of support and concern shown for the victims of oppression in Gaza would continue, and that more people, regardless of gender, religion, or background, would join humanitarian missions in the future.

-- BERNAMA