(From left) Rotary D3300 members Leslie Salehuddin, Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa and Siti Subaidah with Dr Dzulkefly, Wista Malaysia president Reshma Yusouf, Dr Musa and Rotary D3300 member Rajj Melambaran during the MoU signing ceremony.
Rotary District 3300 has initiated a fundraising campaign to provide immediate relief to the people in war-torn Gaza.
Called “Gaza Weeps”, the project is jointly organised by Rotary clubs in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
The project involves the collection of clothes for babies, children and women, food items and other daily essentials, especially for the winter season.
The campaign is held in partnership with Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (Wista) Malaysia where the items will be shipped to areas most affected by the crisis in Gaza.
Wista is an integral part of a global network connecting female executives and decision-makers in the maritime industry.
Rotary clubs in Palestine and Egypt will facilitate ground logistics and distribution of the supplies to ensure the items reach people in need.
Meanwhile, Rotary clubs in Palestine are also partnering with Save Youth Society, Palestine, in the efforts.
“We just cannot sit back and continue looking at the sufferings of innocent children.
“The pain is deep and the impact calls for action,” said Rotary District 3300 Malaysia past district governor Siti Subaidah Mustaffa during the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital in Petaling Jaya.
“Rotary is an international service organisation, and providing humanitarian aid is our priority.
“With our network of Rotary clubs around the crisis region, Rotary Malaysia connected with the Rotary Club of Ramallah in Palestine,” she added.
Rotary Club of Palestine was on the ground providing every assistance they could with support from Rotary clubs in Egypt, Jordan and the region.
Aid was already moving into Gaza but unfortunately, the situation became worse as supplies of medicine, food and all essential items were not able to reach refugee camps in Gaza.
Gathering partners for joint efforts, Rotary had also reached out to Viva Palestina Malaysia which already had a team at ground zero.
“We have been ferrying those injured in our ambulances and supporting hospitals with medical aid and facilitating transfers of supplies.
“But thousands of trucks are stuck at the Rafah border with life-saving medicines,” said Viva Palestina Malaysia chairman Datuk Dr Musa Mohd Nordin.
The “Gaza Weeps” MoU and campaign launch was witnessed by former Health minister and Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who congratulated Rotary for initiating the joint effort and sharing valuable resources in ensuring that aid reaches those in need.
The Rotary network is in place to ensure that all donations received reach intended beneficiaries on the ground, said the fundraiser organisers.
“Stewardship and accountability of the disbursements of funds to various resources to provide direct support takes precedence.”
To accelerate efforts to save lives, Rotary Malaysia welcomes partners to collaborate in relief efforts.
All donations will be channelled to Rotary District 3300, which will be custodian of the funds and will disburse them for food, water, medical supplies and other immediate needs as and when possible and when the borders are open for relief efforts.
For details, email sitisubaidah@rccd.org.my
