EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR PALESTINIANS STILL NOT DISTRIBUTED

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Emergency supplies for victims of the
Israeli attack on Gaza are still piled up at the Egyptian border as until today,
they have not been picked up.

Trucks from the Palestinian side have not been able to collect even
life-saving goods as Israel continues with land and air assaults.

"We are about two kilometres from Palestine. This is truly a case of 'so
near and yet so far," MERCY Malaysia president Dr Jemilah Mahmood wrote in
an email to its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Five trucks loaded with US$100,000 worth of medicine, surgical sets and
disposable items including syringes, intravenous infusions and bandages are
expected to arrive at the Egyptian border town of Rafah.

"The plan is to wait till the border opens and push trucks and ourselves
through the crossing and hand over the items to the Palestine Ministry of
Health," said Dr Jemilah.


According to her, many were in awe that Malaysians were present to help and
and that the MERCY Malaysia team managed to procure emergency relief items from
Egypt.

"It gives a good feeling of solidarity with the many nationalities and
organisations that are here to help," said Dr Jemilah.

--BERNAMA