Rotary Club of Malaysia donates RM20,000 to UNICEF in support of children in Gaza
by Anne Selvarani Albert KUALA LUMPUR, 11 March 2009 – Over 1,800 members of Rotary Club Malaysia’s District 3300 have joined forces to raise a total of RM20, 000 to support UNICEF’s relief efforts in aid of the children in Gaza. UNICEF’s Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam Mr. Youssouf Oomar received the donation from the President of Rotary International, Mr. Dong Kurn Lee and District 3300 Governor, Dr. Rajindar Singh. The handover was witnessed by hundreds of Rotarians who came from all over Peninsula Malaysia at the Rotary Club of Malaysia’s International Dinner at Sunway Lagoon Resort last night. “I would like to thank all the members of the Rotary District 3300 for taking this important step in reminding us that so much more needs to be done for the children of Gaza. You are all Ambassadors for Children because all of you have made a world of difference for these children. Your support offers an assurance to the children of Gaza that there is a group to depend on in times of need,” said Mr.Youssouf. “The children in Gaza have dealt with more trauma than any of us will ever experience in an entire lifetime. Because children are particularly vulnerable in situations of armed conflict, this crisis has robbed them of their basic rights to life, liberty and freedom.” added Mr. Youssouf. Helping children rebuild their lives
So often, children are the ones that are hurt by the wars of adults. In conflict situations, children remain the most vulnerable and are particularly susceptible to fear and panic. Many children in Gaza have endured severe psychological trauma, having lost parents, friends and classmates in the violence, as well as having sustained serious physical injury themselves. “Our humanity is incomplete when children, irrespective of nationality, are victims of military operations. Children should never be the silent victims and unheard voices of a conflict. Some 840,000 children in Gaza are now battling their own inner fears and insecurity,” shared Mr Youssouf. The normalcy of the lives of these children has been disrupted as a result of the destruction of schools, homes, play areas and hospitals."For these children, psychological and social healing will be long and difficult. Access to basic needs and the creation of a sense of security and a safe environment is therefore essential for the well-being of children. ,” he added. Since the onset of the crisis, UNICEF has been supporting the children in Gaza by providing emergency medical supplies, repairing to water and sanitation facilities, providing safe water, hygiene material and therapeutic food, as well as ensuring children are get essential psychosocial support that they require. Education – the first step to recovery Reconstructing schools and ensuring that children can go back to their classrooms and feel secure again is an essential step to the recovery of children in the Gaza Strip. “Education is a basic right, and it must be prioritised in any emergency response. The return to school provides an important opportunity for children to interact, play, rebuild their routines, and overcome distress”, stressed Mr. Youssouf. “There is no better way of helping children to regain normalcy than to return them to school. A learning environment allows children to be children again, “ he added. With the return of hundreds of thousands of children to school in Gaza, 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. A special dedication to the world’s children As a stalwart advocate for child mortality globally, Rotary International has been working tirelessly to raise funds for children in Gaza since the onset of the war. "Like many people, we have been deeply moved by the scenes of devastation we have witnessed in Gaza. We will keep our minds firmly focused on our goal that is to restore the lives of these children. Rotary is keen to turn their dreams of a safe and happy childhood – a childhood that becomes a long and healthy life – into a reality because all of the world’s children, are our children,” said President Rotarian, Mr. Dong Kurn Lee. In addition to supporting children in Gaza, Rotarians around the world have also donated over USD500 million ( RM1.7 billion) to polio eradication globally. "To every Rotarian I want to tell you that your support for the children of Gaza and the great work you are doing around the world in the area of polio eradication is reassuring because, on one hand we witness a world that is becoming increasingly materialistic and individualistic; yet on the other hand, we are not short of exemplary individuals and groups such as yourselves that represent the spirit of compassion and selfless giving,” said Mr. Youssouf. “We look forward to the Rotary club growing further with UNICEF so that more and more communities can come to benefit from your voluntarism and philanthropy," he added.
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Crisis in Gaza UNICEF Malaysia's Representative Appeal Newsline 28 January 2009: 26 January 2009: 23 January 2009: 22 January 2009: |
