Young Malaysian rugby players donate RM 1,000 to UNICEF for children in Gaza
by Indra Kumari Nadchatram ARAU Perlis, 12 January 2009 – Malaysian children and young rugby players involved in the “Save the Children of Gaza” humanitarian program rallied together recently to raise RM 1,000 for children and women in Gaza, as the on-going violence on the Strip entered its third week. The Perlis Rugby Association in Malaysia presented the donation to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at the Perlis Sevens '09 Rugby Tournament held at the Syed Sirajuddin Arau Secondary School over the weekend. Close to 200 youth from schools and universities in Perlis gathered in solidarity and support for children and UNICEF’s efforts to provide relief and aid to families trapped by the conflict. “Too often, children are the silent and voiceless victims of conflict and its deadly effects. As bombs and rockets are exchanged by adults, it is children who suffer the most in all aspects of their lives,” said UNICEF’s Representative to Malaysia, Mr. Youssouf Oomar. In conflict, children are the biggest losers “Armed conflict kills and maims children, disrupts their education, denies them access to essential health services, increases poverty, malnutrition and disease. Conflict also forces children to flee their homes, and can separate them from their parents, or altogether worse, rob them of a father, mother or both,” added Mr. Youssouf who is also UNICEF's Special Representative to Brunei.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of children being killed and injured in the fighting in Gaza continues to climb daily. Figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health reveal there have been 783 deaths since 27 December 2008, out of which 257 were children and 56 were women. At least, 3,100 have been injured including 1,080 children and 452 women. Gaza is quickly running out of safe spaces for children as homes, mosques and schools are targeted both sides of the border. A week ago, a school run by UNRWA in Gaza City – where hundreds had taken shelter – was bombed, resulting in fatalities and injuries. On the same day, a rocket fired from Gaza hit a kindergarten in southern Israel, damaging the school. There were no fatalities. As one sixteen year old Gazan resident, Yasmin, told UNICEF Radio in a telephone interview: "There's no school to go to for education or to learn, because there is no safety in the streets." Helping children, despite the dangers Despite the daily violence that continues to batter the Gaza strip, UNICEF teams are working to ensure that critical supplies are ready to reach women and children at risk. These include mobilising emergency relief supplies such as hygiene kits, water-purification tablets, education materials, collapsible water containers and recreation kits from its warehouse in Zarka, Jordan. At the same time, additional aid from UNICEF’s supply hub in Copenhagen should be in the region for delivery into Gaza within the week. During the three-hour ceasefires that took place on 7 and 8 January in Gaza, UNICEF was also able to provide some aid in the form of health kits for clinics and family water kits for displaced people. The supplies were pre-positioned in Gaza. Once safe humanitarian access is restored in Gaza, five UNICEF-supported psychosocial teams will conduct emergency home and hospital visits to assist children and families affected by the conflict. In partnership with other UN agencies and non-governmental partners, UNICEF will also provide supplies to health facilities, assess emergency education and child-protection needs, and support the water and sanitation sector. “Our priority is always children. Whether in times of peace or conflict, UNICEF will always stand steadfastly by children to work against their needless death and suffering,” affirmed Mr. Youssouf who also helped release twelve doves at the event as a symbol of peace and hope for the children in Gaza. END
Donate now!
Video Crisis in Gaza Event Statement Gaza Crisis – An Opportunity to Make Things Better UN & UNICEF Statements 14 January 2009: 8 January 2009: 5 January 2009: 5 January 2009: 29 December 2008: 29 December 2008: Palestinian Casualty Update Palestinian MoH Dead – 1,314 Injured – 5,300 Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
VIDEO 
