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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has channelled donations and humanitarian aid amounting to RM45 million to Palestinians in Gaza since the war erupted on Oct 7, 2023, says deputy foreign minister Mohamad Alamin.
He said the donations were channelled through the Palestine Humanitarian Trust Account (AAKRP) with the cooperation of various parties, including NGOs involved in Op Ihsan, agencies under the United Nations such as UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the Malaysian embassy in Amman, Jordan.
According to him, more than 5,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Malaysia have been sent to Gaza through the Rafah border since October last year. This has benefited millions of Palestinians.
“The situation is now getting more challenging after the Rafah border gate was closed on May 7. The only aid route still operating is through the King Hussein Bridge in Jordan.
“For that reason, we are strengthening our cooperation with the Jordanian government. We have been invited and agreed to participate in the aid mission through this bridge” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Mohamad was replying to a question by Mordi Bimol (PH-Mas Gading) who asked the government to state Malaysia’s current position as well as the form of humanitarian aid extended and the cost allocated for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza since Oct 7, 2023.
Besides aid for the Palestinians in Gaza, he said Malaysia also donated US$1 million to two organisations in Jordan, namely the King Hussein Cancer Center and the Jordan Hashemite Welfare Organization.
He said Palestinian students who are continuing their studies in Malaysia also receive assistance channelled through the higher education ministry, including study loans and living allowances.
Mohamad said Malaysia will continue to be vocal in advocating for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and full recognition as a UN member state.
He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had also stated Malaysia’s firm stance in supporting the Palestinian people’s struggle at the Extraordinary Summit of Arab-Islamic States in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday.