Malaysian NGOs And Representative of IHH Launch Lifeline 4 Gaza

KUALA LUMPUR, Tuesday, Apr 13 — NON-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from Malaysia are participating in efforts to form an international convoy aimed at dismantling the Zionist Israel regime’s blockade of Gaza and to deliver basic living necessities to her citizens who have been continually denied of such aids in the past.

Several domestic NGOs have committed to join hands and cooperate by organizing meaningful programs aimed at collecting donations from Malaysians sympathetic toward the humanitarian crisis through a project named “Lifeline4Gaza – Break The Siege”. Amongst these NGOs are the Coalition of Graduates of Higher Institutions of Malaysia (HALUAN), Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (ABIM), Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), Palestinian Center of Excellence (PACE), Aqsa Syarif, Dewan Pemuda Masjid Malaysia (Dewan Pemuda), Pertubuhan Mawaddah Malaysia, and Viva Palestina Malaysia (VPM). So as to have a successful mission in delivering the goods into Gaza, they will be joining an international convoy headed by a Turkish-based NGO called the Foundation for Human Rights & Freedom & Humanitarian Relief (Insan Hak ve Hurriyetleri – or better known as I.H.H.) alongside other international NGOs such as the Free Gaza Movement and the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG.)

At a press conference which was also attended by a representative of the IHH overseeing the assistance from Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam along with leaders of NGOs in Kuala Lumpur this morning, HALUAN President, Dr Abdullah Sudin Abd Rahman aspires that the cooperation and support from all quarters in Malaysia will expose to the public the crimes which is being inflicted by the Zionist Israel regime and its allies upon the citizens of Gaza and the Palestinian Nation as a whole. With close networking, these Malaysian NGOs will be able to harness their strengths, experience and commitment towards ending the siege on Gaza and to assist her people to rebuild their lives.

In addition to the embargo and Wall of Death, the Zionists attacked Gaza on the 27th of December 2008 for 23 days. The brutal attack saw the Israeli regime unleashing phosphorous bombs, uranium missiles and other deadly weapons not deployed elsewhere. It dropped a total of 1.5 million kilograms of bombs from all directions; land, sea and aerial.

Almost all main infrastructure of Gaza city were destroyed in the despicable attack. Many important buildings such as government complexes, hospitals, universities, mosques, churches, schools, electric power stations, reservoirs and others were destroyed by the Zionist regime’s attack which was clearly aimed at crippling the citizen’s needs.

Now after over a year after the tragedy, the people of Gaza have yet to re-build their homes and other basic facilities such as schools, mosques and hospitals. They still take shelter under makeshift tents because construction materials and machinery are strictly not allowed to be taken in. There are citizens who resorted to living under the ruins of their former homes. There were many patients who have had to endure prolonged chronic diseases leading to their death due to the lack of medical facilities and the fact that none are allowed to leave Gaza for treatment in hospitals beyond its borders.

The year 2006 witnessed many attempts made to liberate Palestine, including Gaza, from the clutches of the despicable Zionists. Non-Governmental Associations (NGOs) from all over the world made numerous attempts to enter and assist the Gazans. Over 10 attempts were made but only a handful were successful in overcoming the blockade.

The latest attempt was a convoy on 5th December, 2009 championed by Viva Palestina which is based in Europe. The attempt successfully attracted over 320 volunteers who formed a convoy of over 3,000km from the U.K. via Turkey, Syria, Jordan leading to El-A’rish in Rafah, Egypt before finally entering Gaza on the 6th of January, 2010. A total of 12 Malaysians, including two from HALUAN Malaysia, were in the convoy.

Even though the 3rd Viva Palestina convoy successfully entered Gaza city, it failed to lift the embargo against her citizens.

Now, IHH which has full backing of the Turkish Government and international NGOs from over 17 countries have mooted efforts to launch the fourth Lifeline for Gaza, dubbed the LL4G. A massive effort is underway where a convoy of ships will set sail across the Mediterranean Sea from Istanbul, heading to Cyprus and finally beach heading in Gaza via the seas. This convoy will consist of some 20 ships and boats.

This campaign will be spearheaded by the Turkish Prime Minister himself, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The humanitarian convoy will haul basic living necessities such as construction materials for hospitals, medical supplies and food items. The flotilla will also be accompanied by prominent worldwide politicians and humanitarian leaders who hold great sympathy over the fate of Gaza and her people.

The aid will be directly delivered to Gaza using diplomatic channels of Turkey which has an ongoing Security Agreement with the Israel regime ever since World War II. The treaty stipulates that Israel cannot disrupt ships from Turkey.

This particular convoy is important because if it succeeds, the ships will be used to deliver all future humanitarian aids to Gaza from time to time. It effectively means that Israel’s embargo against Gaza will be lifted even though the Wall of Death still stands.

With regards to this convoy, the IHH has appointed HALUAN as Coordinator for all aids from Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. As such, HALUAN along with the fraternity of NGOs present today appeal for all institutions, organizations, corporations, companies and individuals who sympathize with this humanitarian crisis to give their undivided support and assistance to save the Palestinians by organizing events to demonstrate their solidarity such as holding special prayers, exhibitions, seminars and talks on Palestine awareness, fund-raising for the Palestine Humanitarian Fund, as well as speeches, dialogues, discussions and forums to expand the topic of the atrocities meted out against the Palestinians. We are ever ready to cooperate with any party who wants to jointly organize such events leading to greater awareness of the Palestine issue.

Donations in aid of the Lifeline4Gaza project can be made directly to the account below:

Account name : “TABUNG PALESTIN HALUAN”
Account number : 5644 9020 8528
Bank : Maybank Berhad

It is endeavored that efforts such as this will give birth to a new generation of Malaysians who are sensitive and caring about humanitarian issues, and most importantly to cherish the freedom of independence that we have enjoyed thus far.

Source: Lifeline4Gaza.
Link: http://www.lifeline4gaza.org/2010/04/13/malaysian-ngos-and-representative-of-ihh-launch-lifeline-4-gaza-project/.