MERCY MALAYSIA EVACUATE GAZA STRIP

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- For fear of renewed fighting in Gaza,
Malaysian Medical Relief Society (MERCY) Malaysia's team of doctors stationed in
the war-torn conflict zone since January have been evacuated.

At about 8pm Malaysian time Monday, the team of six, safely crossed the
Rafah border into Egypt and the call to evacuate the team came at the behest of
the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo.

"When the situation abates, we will go back into Gaza to continue our work.
But in the course of our work, we do not wish to jeopardize the safety of our
volunteers and staff," MERCY Malaysia Executive Council Member Norazam Abu Samah
said in a statement here Monday.

The six were tasked to look into possibilities of implementing sustainable
programmes in primary health, reproductive health as well as psychological
intervention and mental health support programmes.

The statement said the team will be on standby in Egypt where they will
await further instructions from MERCY Malaysia Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

"Due to uncertainties in Gaza, MERCY Malaysia had also limited the number of
volunteers at the moment. However, due to pressing needs, I will be heading to
Egypt", he said.

Norazam said he will be working with another MERCY Malaysia Volunteer, Razi
Pahlavi Abdul Aziz, to strategise and plan the organisation's next move, he said
adding MERCY Malaysia was in continuous discussions with its trusted Palestinian
partners pertaining to recovery work in the Strip.

He said the team was monitoring the situation very close and should be able
to come up with a concrete action plan soon.
--BERNAMA