PETALING JAYA: Rotary District 3300 has taken the lead in initiating the 'Gaza Weeps' project, a collaborative effort with the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Malaysia, Viva Palestina Malaysia (VPM), and Rotary International.
The project aims to spearhead a fundraising campaign for immediate relief efforts in Gaza.
Its past district governor, Siti Subaidah Mustaffa, outlined the project's multifaceted approach, which includes the collection of clothes for babies, children, and women, as well as essential food items.
The initiative becomes especially crucial with the impending winter season.
"We have a short-term and long-term plan for this project. It's a fundraising exercise where we like to raise as many funds and supplies as possible.
"It could be a donation in cash or in kind to be able to send to Gaza."
The urgency of the situation requires careful consideration in transferring funds and donations. Siti Subaidah assured.
"Whatever we can do immediately with our funds, we will move first."
She then explained the long-term plan is to put up water desalinisation plants to convert water from the ground to be processed into clean water for hospitals, schools, and villages.
"These plants were already there in Gaza, but they've been destroyed. So, we need to redo that again in certain areas.
"Another area of concern is disease prevention. We will be assessing what kind of disease situations so that we can do projects relating to disease prevention, especially maternal care, mothers and children," she said.
A statement from Rotary District 3300 said all the donations will be channelled to them, who will be the custodian of the funds.
"We will distribute the funds for food, water, medical supplies, and other immediate needs as soon as possible and when the borders are open for relief efforts."