KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian Red Crescent Society doctors and its disaster manager leave for Rafah, Egypt, tomorrow with medical supplies and other relief materials.

"We are taking the supplies ourselves because we want to ensure they reach the victims," said MRCS disaster manager Nasir Khan Abdul Rahman at a news conference after the launch of the MRCS International Relief Fund for Gaza victims at its headquarters yesterday.

Team member and head of the Universiti Putra Malaysia's health centre, Dr Yahaya Abu Ahmad, said the doctors would remain in Rafah for 10 days to assess exactly what was needed and coordinate with MRCS to get it to Gaza.

MRCS chairman Tunku Tan Sri Shahriman Tunku Sulaiman said earlier that MRCS had donated RM35,000 to the Palestine Red Crescent Society's Ramallah Al Balad branch as an immediate response to an appeal for donations. He said the funds would be used to purchase medicines, relief items and for post rehabilitation and recovery projects.

"We hope Malaysians will donate to our fund to help us get more medical supplies and whatever aid is needed by the Palestinians."
All donations are tax-exempt. Cheques with "Gaza City" written on the back should be made out to the "MRCS International Relief Fund", and sent to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society's national headquarters, 32 Jalan Nipah, off Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur.

Donations can also be made directly to the MRCS Maybank account number 51442210- 2657.