Malaysia delivers over 400 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has sent over 400 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza and has been carried out in collaboration with non-governmental organizations since last year.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the latest was an emergency humanitarian aid mission of 100 containers from Cairo to Gaza. It was overseen by the Malaysia Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations.

"The aid includes 1,358 tonnes of basic necessities such as wheat flour, food boxes, mother and baby items valued at RM12 million," he said in a written reply in Parliament when responding to a question from Azli Yusof (PH-Shah Alam).

He said the government was liaising with the Egyptian government and the Egyptian Red Crescent Association (ERC) to ensure humanitarian aid reached the Palestinian people in need.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his official visit to Egypt in October 2023 also discussed with the Egyptian leadership to ensure the smooth flow of much-needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

"During a special visit of members of parliament to Egypt led by the deputy foreign minister, he also conveyed to his counterparts the important role of Egypt in the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza," he said.

Meanwhile, he said Malaysia would apply international legal frameworks based on United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/182 (1991) to address urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.

"The delivery of Malaysian humanitarian goods always adheres to the specifications and standards set by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, which clearly states that the procedure for the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza must go through the ERC.

"Among the essential items listed by ERC are food supplies, drinks, medicines, medical equipment, baby and women's items, blankets and other survival needs," he said.

The conflict in Gaza has claimed 32,142 lives, including 12,300 Palestinian children, while 1,540 Israelis have been killed. A total of 74,412 Palestinians have been injured, with another 7,000 reportedly missing. About 2.3 million people have been displaced.

At present, thousands of trucks carrying humanitarian aid from Egypt to Gaza are still awaiting permission to cross the Rafah border to enter Gaza. (Mohd Nasaruddin Parzi / New Straits Times)