ID :
203471
Thu, 08/25/2011 - 12:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/203471
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MALAYSIAN PM'S WIFE LAUNCHES HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO SOMALIA
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Rosmah Mansor, wife of the prime
minister of Malaysia, Thursday launched a mission to bring food, clothing and
medicines to famine-hit Somalia.
The Humanitarian Mission to Somalia is organised by the Association of Wives
of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti), of which Rosmah is president, and the
Putera 1Malaysia Club.
The organisers have collected RM1.95 million (US$653,102) (US$1=RM2.99) in
donations in just two days, Rosmah said, adding that Bakti gave RM200,000
(US$66,984) and the rest came from the Mah Seng Group, Maybank, Tabung Haji
(Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board), Seni Jaya and CIMB Bank.
"AirAsia and MAS have agreed to help transport the relief supplies to
Somalia. I hope other entities will also come forward with assistance," she said
at the launch of the mission at Seri Perdana, here.
Also present were Putera 1Malaysia Club president Abdul Azeez Abdul
Rahim and president of the State of Udubland of Somalia, Ibrahim Abdullahi Addo.
Rosmah said the mission was estimated to cost US$2.1 million (about RM6
million).
She quoted reports as saying that famine had struck 3.7 million people in
Somalia and that 2.8 million more faced the risk of death unless they received
food soon.
"It is most saddening that the worst affected are children, who lack
nutritious food, as well as women and the elderly. It is even more
heart-wrenching to learn that the circumference of wrists are measured to
determine who among the children should be given aid first due to the shortage
of supply," she said.
Rosmah said members of the Putera 1Malaysia Club and an observer team would
leave for Somalia first to report back on the security situation and, if it was
safe, a team of Bakti members would also go there.
The seven-member observer team, led by former Malaysian ambassador to Libya
Mohd Zulkephli Mohd Nor, left for Somalia earlier Thursday, she added.
Rosmah said a 60-member group comprising 40 medical specialists, journalists
and volunteers, led by Abdul Azeez, would leave for Somalia on Sunday.
"The group will bring along 20 tonnes of food, clothing and medicines and
also buy 200 tonnes of food in Mogadishu.
"The Putra 1Malaysia Club will also open temporary clinics at the camps
housing the famine-hit people. I am made to understand that the aid would meet
the needs of the people at the camps for about two months," she said.
Rosmah said she was informed that Putera 1Malaysia Club planned to bring
back to Malaysia 11 orphans from Somalia to be housed at the Permata Home.
minister of Malaysia, Thursday launched a mission to bring food, clothing and
medicines to famine-hit Somalia.
The Humanitarian Mission to Somalia is organised by the Association of Wives
of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti), of which Rosmah is president, and the
Putera 1Malaysia Club.
The organisers have collected RM1.95 million (US$653,102) (US$1=RM2.99) in
donations in just two days, Rosmah said, adding that Bakti gave RM200,000
(US$66,984) and the rest came from the Mah Seng Group, Maybank, Tabung Haji
(Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board), Seni Jaya and CIMB Bank.
"AirAsia and MAS have agreed to help transport the relief supplies to
Somalia. I hope other entities will also come forward with assistance," she said
at the launch of the mission at Seri Perdana, here.
Also present were Putera 1Malaysia Club president Abdul Azeez Abdul
Rahim and president of the State of Udubland of Somalia, Ibrahim Abdullahi Addo.
Rosmah said the mission was estimated to cost US$2.1 million (about RM6
million).
She quoted reports as saying that famine had struck 3.7 million people in
Somalia and that 2.8 million more faced the risk of death unless they received
food soon.
"It is most saddening that the worst affected are children, who lack
nutritious food, as well as women and the elderly. It is even more
heart-wrenching to learn that the circumference of wrists are measured to
determine who among the children should be given aid first due to the shortage
of supply," she said.
Rosmah said members of the Putera 1Malaysia Club and an observer team would
leave for Somalia first to report back on the security situation and, if it was
safe, a team of Bakti members would also go there.
The seven-member observer team, led by former Malaysian ambassador to Libya
Mohd Zulkephli Mohd Nor, left for Somalia earlier Thursday, she added.
Rosmah said a 60-member group comprising 40 medical specialists, journalists
and volunteers, led by Abdul Azeez, would leave for Somalia on Sunday.
"The group will bring along 20 tonnes of food, clothing and medicines and
also buy 200 tonnes of food in Mogadishu.
"The Putra 1Malaysia Club will also open temporary clinics at the camps
housing the famine-hit people. I am made to understand that the aid would meet
the needs of the people at the camps for about two months," she said.
Rosmah said she was informed that Putera 1Malaysia Club planned to bring
back to Malaysia 11 orphans from Somalia to be housed at the Permata Home.
