KUALA LUMPUR: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Malaysia have pledged to continue their humanitarian aid missions to Palestine in the coming year. Ops Ihsan Secretariat chairman Jismi Johari stated that the NGOs will be gathering funds to provide essential items such as food and personal care products. Three humanitarian aid missions for Palestine were conducted this year through Ops Ihsan on Nov 3, Nov 10, and Dec 19, with an approximate value of RM14 million for goods and transport costs. The aid distributed so far includes food, medicine, and personal care items, but it remains insufficient to meet the needs of the people in Gaza, where more than 1.7 million individuals are living as refugees after losing their homes.
Jismi mentioned that the next batch of assistance is expected to be sent in early January, consisting of 10 containers by sea. He further explained that Ops Ihsan, coordinated by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, is led by Mahar and involves over 50 other NGOs like Global Peace Mission (GPM) Malaysia, Red A Humanitarian Development Global, Mercy Malaysia, Pertubuhan Ihsan Johor, BeVital, and the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (Mapim). In 2024, Ops Ihsan Secretariat plans to help with tuition fees and living costs for Palestinians in Malaysia and ensure the smooth handling of delivery aid for humanitarian missions at the hub in Cairo.
Muslim Care Malaysia president Zulkifli Wahijan shared that the organization had donated RM3.5 million worth of aid to Palestine since Oct 10, including dry food, blankets, sweaters, and solar panels for energy generation. They also plan to rebuild infrastructure such as mosques, schools, and business centers that were destroyed by Israeli military assaults, provided the oppression stops. Mapim president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid mentioned that ongoing communication with NGOs in Gaza is underway to determine the specific needs, with a focus on addressing urgent needs and efficiently using donations for the benefit of the affected communities. – Bernama
