No easy task to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian charities have collected 50,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid worth about RM7mil for Palestinians in Gaza, which has been under siege and deprived of water, food and other basic supplies in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

But getting them the aid may not be an easy matter.

Global Peace Mission (GPM) Malaysia chief executive officer Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin said the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to provide aid to displaced Palestinians was still in a state of flux.

“Only RM200,000 (worth of goods) have been distributed by our teams on the ground in the last two weeks.

“(Otherwise,) no contribution, no funds received (by Palestinians). Nothing can get through. Until now, we are waiting, trying to assist,” he told Bernama yesterday, describing the amount of assistance provided so far as a drop in the ocean of need.

However, he remains hopeful that the humanitarian corridor will be established soon, saying that they will fly in all the donations once they receive the green light.

It was reported that a resolution calling for a “humanitarian pause”, which would have allowed humanitarian corridors into the Gaza Strip, a pause in the fighting and the lifting of an order for civilians to leave the north of the blockaded area, was not passed by the United Nations Security Council on Oct 18.

Twelve out of 15 countries supported the resolution but the United States vetoed it.

On the solidarity gathering for Palestine at Axiata in Bukit Jalil here – jointly organised by GPM, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) and Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief – last night, Ahmad Fahmi said, “It’s time for us to play a bigger role in this issue instead of only observing or being on the sidelines.”