Materia Medica Malaysiana

Mercy sets up fund for Sudanese

KUALA LUMPUR: Grim images of hollow-eyed, skeletal and dying adults and children in desperate need of help have been beamed across the globe over the past weeks from Darfur in Sudan.

Malaysians can help alleviate what the United Nations has declared as the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world” at present by contributing to a fund set up by the Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia).

Named the Sudan Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, the fund will go towards setting up a basic health facility and therapeutic feeding centre in El-Geneina in West Darfur, where about 170,000 displaced Sudanese have fled to following violence mounted by Arab Janjaweed militias, accused of ethnic cleansing and genocide against the black Africans.

A contribution of RM5 can prolong the life of a malnourished child by up to a month while RM10 can address the medical needs of one displaced person for the same period.

Mercy Malaysia president Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood said a four-member team would be leaving for Sudan on Monday on board a Qatar Airway-sponsored flight to gather information on the needs before deploying a medical team there in middle of next month.

At least RM1.5mil is needed to set up a medical facility and operate it for six months.

“Our priorities are to provide basic healthcare, prevent the spread of diseases and feed malnourished children.

“We need special food and milk formula as prescribed by the World Health Organisation for these children,” she told a press conference yesterday.

According to United Nations estimates, one million black Sudanese fled their homes since early last year and 50,000 have been killed. Of the displaced, 88% are without shelter, 64% without clean water and 49% without food relief.

Dr Jemilah appealed to Malaysians to donate generously and also called for medical volunteers to come forward.

“Mercy will write to the Malaysian Government requesting support. We hope the Health Ministry will allow doctors from public hospitals who are interested in joining the relief mission to apply for leave,” she said.

For details, call Mercy Malaysia at 03-4256 9999/012-916 2579/019-636 6595.