Mercy Malaysia Seeks Funds For Somalian, Philippine Humantarian Missions

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) is seeking public funds to raise at least RM2 million to carry out various humanitarian projects in Mogadishu, Somalia and Mindanao, Philippines.
Mercy Malaysia Vice-President II Norazam Ab Samah said they planned to use the funds for medical aid, supplementary feeding centres, outreach clinic for primary health care, food distribution and conducting psycho-social programme and training.
"Since last August, Mercy Malaysia has distributed food to 600 displaced families which arrived in Mogadishu on the eve of Eid Aidilfitri," he told a media conference at its office here Tuesday.
Also present were Mercy Malaysia humantarian team head in Mindanao, Jessica Wong Ming Shi.
Among the latest Mercy Malaysia projects in the war-torn Mogadishu are the opening of a new static clinic with local partner Aden Abdulle Foundation, in Tawfiq in the Yaqshid district.
"Mercy Malaysia is also working closely with students from the University of Somalia to conduct hygiene promotion to encourage the students to participate in humanitarian work as the nation is in need," said Norazam.
Apart from seeking funds, Mercy Malaysia is also appealing to the public to sponsor a Somalia child for RM60 a month or RM300 for a Somalia family for the same period, he said.
Meanwhile, Wong said they also needed funds for Mercy Malaysia's future projects in Mindanao, adding they had so far, collected about RM300,000.
The projects are the reconstruction of health centres and conducting psychosocial treatment for victims facing acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and other related sicknesses.
A devastating tropical storm 'Washi' hit Mindanao last December, causing massive floods and landslides, the hardest hit areas being the city of Iligan and Cagayan De Oro, with many houses swept into the sea.
Mercy Malaysia can be contacted at 03-2273 3999 or by logging on to the website, www.mercy.org.my