Press

Collective humanitarian effort

During the cheque presentation ceremony, Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah presented cheques amounting to RM11 million (US$3 million) to 13 Malaysian NGOs, including UNICEF.

These NGOs – comprising Mercy Malaysia, Malaysian Red Cresent Society, Global Peace, Peace Malaysia and Aman Palestine, among others – received the funds as a contribution towards their efforts to aid the people of Gaza under the categories of Basic Needs, Health and Medicine, Children and Education, and Humanitarian Work.

Since it was launched on 15 January 2009, the Fund has collected more than RM13 million (US$3.6 million) from donations by Malaysian individuals, corporations and organisations.

UNICEF Malaysia welcomes this substantial contribution, which will be channelled to the UNICEF office in the occupied Palestinian territory to continue relief and rehabilitation efforts for the children of Gaza.

Putting children first

UNICEF’s efforts in Gaza include addressing children’s health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene needs, as well as child protection. Greatest priority, however, is given to ensuring the rights of children to continue their education and receive pyschosocial support.

“UNICEF is providing essential educational equipment and materials to re-establish learning and recreational activities, create safe environments, and help restore a sense of normalcy for children in Gaza,” said Mr. Youssouf. “The return to school provides an important opportunity for children to interact, play, rebuild their routines, and overcome distress.”

Between 3 and 10 March, UNICEF supplied Palestinian Authority schools in all six directorates with 6 pallets of stationery, 14,639 remedial folders for grade 1 students, 14,036 remedial folders for grade 2 students, 15,207 remedial folders for grade 4 students, and 1,985 student stationery boxes.

During the same period, UNICEF also supplied its partners with 30 recreational kits, 6000 fleece blankets and 150 baby blankets to be distributed to children in locations where UNICEF partners are providing family support and psychosocial support activities, 80,000 mine risk education leaflets, as well as six computers (out of a total of 30 planned) to adolescent-friendly learning centres.

“We hope that, through UNICEF, the children of Gaza will be given the due attention they deserve,” said Dato’ Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim, Minister of Foreign Affairs Malaysia.

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NOTE TO EDITORS

UNICEF’s actions to restore education for children in Gaza will include:

a) Immediate after crisis Education in Gaza (US$ 2,022,300)
To ensure back to schools normality and children to continue their schooling immediately after the crisis in Gaza through:

• Conducting repairs for 200 primary schools including replacing some school/classroom furniture and simple equipment or school tents; 
• Providing 40,000 students with stationary item such as pens, pencils, rulers in school bags; 
• Equipping 200-250 primary schools (40,000 students) in Gaza with teaching equipment; 
• Providing 150 Early Childhood Development (ECD) kits to benefit at least 5,000 pre-school children in 100 community centres or kindergartens; 
• Orienting 2,000 teachers on using remedial worksheets, and in improved teaching approaches and psycho-social counselling in emergency situations.

b) Back to School in Gaza (US$ 6,000,000)
Through provision of the most needed education supplies to 250 schools and 4,000 teachers, to return a sense of normality to the education system and ensure 50,000 students and 10,000 ECD children start learning again.

c) Psycho-social Support in Schools (US$ 1,500,000)
To create safe and protective spaces for children to bring back normality to their lives; and to support and maintain a productive learning environment through provision of psycho-social support in schools to benefit 40,000 children and 5,000 teachers.