BEING a mother of two, top singer Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin says she is often touched by the plight of Palestinian women and children in war-torn Gaza.
"When I see little kids like that, it reminds me of Afwa and Aafiyah.
"I imagined what it would be like if they were in that situation. I get very emotional when it involves children," says the mother to Siti Aafiyah Khalid, 6, and Muhammad Afwa Khalid, 3.
"While some may not feel this as Gaza seems far from us, for me and those who have worked closely with organisations providing aid to the victims there, seeing the sad news from Palestine each day is enough to leave an indelible mark inside us," shares the 45-year-old singer, who is also the co-founder and chairman of Yayasan Nurjiwa.
Through the foundation, Siti had set up the Afwa Al-Afiyah School in southern Gaza back in 2020, which now has about 100 children and 10 teachers.
Late last year, they had to relocate due to heavy bombing by Israeli forces.
"Thankfully, they're all now safe in a camp in Rafah," says Siti, who is monitoring the situation in Gaza closely with the help of her friend and humanitarian worker, Dr Mohanad.
Siti adds that she is affected by what's happening in Gaza through her involvement with the school.
"Every day, I ask if they are safe there, afraid they might be bombed. What I feel and express is sincere, it is what I feel," she says during a recent Nurjiwa Prihatin Iftar event in Kuala Lumpur.
10,000 DISPLACED PALESTINIANS GET RAMADAN AID
According to Dr Mohanad, the donations from Yayasan Nurjiwa are being used to feed throughout Ramadan about 10,000 people in Rafah, southern Gaza, who are displaced by the war.
"While they may not be able to get hold of fresh produce like meat and fish, the money is sufficient to buy Arabic staples, which include legumes and flour.
"There are many more people in Rafah, but we can only provide food for 10,000 individuals.
"I want to express my gratitude to the donors, who are Malaysians. Apart from food, some have also donated clothing because it is cold there now," says Siti Nurhaliza.
The award-winning artiste also provides aid to the needy in Malaysia via her foundation.
The iftar event, held in collaboration with Yayasan Prihatin Nasional, hosted 60 orphans from Rumah Anak Yatim Permata Hatiku and Rumah Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Al-Firdaus, besides 40 single mothers from Persatuan Gerak Wanita Islam Malaysia (Gerakwanis) dan Pertubuhan Negarawati Tanahair (Negarawati).
Veteran artistes and entertainment reporters who needed assistance also received donations in the event.
Apart from monetary assistance, the recipients also received new clothes and food boxes, as Hari Raya Aidilfitri is just around the corner.
Yayasan Prihatin Nasional chief executive officer Datuk Aizuddin Ghazali says he is honoured to collaborate with Yayasan Nurjiwa in organising the event and other future programmes.
"To work with a foundation by a big star like Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza is a huge opportunity for us at Prihatin.
"Siti's generosity and her warmth should inspire other quarters to come forward and reach out to the less fortunate, especially during this blessed month of Ramadan," he says.
Last year, Siti was named as the icon for Prihatin's Program Townhall Ikon Nasional.
The Hitman Concert: David Foster And Friends Asia 2023, organised by Prihatin, was a fundraiser for Tabung Kasih Prihatin, which also featured performances by Siti.