FIMA Year Book 2010-2011 - Federation of Islamic Medical ...
FIMA Year Book 2010-2011 - Federation of Islamic Medical ...
FIMA Year Book 2010-2011 - Federation of Islamic Medical ...
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VIVA PALESTINA 5:<br />
A GLOBAL LIFELINE TO GAZA<br />
VIVA PALESTINA 5:<br />
A GLOBAL LIFELINE TO GAZA<br />
Musa Mohd Nordin*, Azra Banu, Norazmi Talib, Hafidzi Mohd Noor<br />
Musa Mohd Nordin*, Azra Banu, Norazmi Talib, Hafidzi Mohd Noor<br />
Abstract:<br />
The Viva Palestina 5 (VP5), Life Line to Gaza convoy departed from London on 18 September<br />
<strong>2011</strong> and travelled 3,000 miles through France, Italy, Greece and Turkey before arriving in<br />
Syria. At the Syrian port <strong>of</strong> Latakia, two other convoys from Morocco and Algeria, and another<br />
from Doha-Qatar joined VP5. After 16 days <strong>of</strong> negotiations with Egyptian authorities, VP5 was<br />
allowed travel to El-Arish on 19 October <strong>2011</strong>, enroute to Rafah and Gaza.<br />
VP5 consisted <strong>of</strong> 380 volunteers from 30 countries, driving 147 vehicles carrying humanitarian<br />
aid worth in excess <strong>of</strong> USD 5 million. This time round, all the vehicles mainly laden with<br />
medical and educational aid, successfully passed the Rafah Crossing into Gaza.<br />
The daytime arrival <strong>of</strong> the convoy was historical and very significant because it enabled wide<br />
media coverage and inspired the Gazans upon seeing a group <strong>of</strong> people break the siege and<br />
witness the long train <strong>of</strong> vehicles with aid arriving to support them. It delivered a powerful<br />
message that the world has not forgotten them and global efforts were underway to overturn the<br />
cruel siege on Gaza.<br />
VP5 represented a major breakthrough because <strong>of</strong> its wider international representation, better<br />
global collaboration, bigger aid handout and paramount morale boosting for the Gazans.<br />
Repeatedly, the Gaza people echoed, "Please tell the world what is happening."<br />
The Malaysian contingent, namely from Viva Palestina Malaysia (VPM) and Aqsa Syarif (AS:<br />
A Malaysian charitable and humanitarian NGO to mainstream the struggle to free Al-Aqsa and<br />
Palestine), reviewed the progress <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the earlier Malaysian funded projects in Gaza<br />
initiated by Aqsa Syarif, and adopted more new projects for funding. VPM, Aqsa Syarif and<br />
their partners in Malaysia are presently raising funds to make these projects viable and<br />
sustainable. And we are fully supportive <strong>of</strong> the next convoy to Gaza, which was recently named<br />
Freedom Flotilla – Stay Human, and which is due to set sail to Gaza in the middle <strong>of</strong> <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
Key words: Viva Palestina, Life Line, Gaza, Malaysia.<br />
*Pr<strong>of</strong>. Musa Nordin<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Pediatrics<br />
Cyberjaya University-College <strong>of</strong> <strong>Medical</strong> Sciences (CUCMS)<br />
Kuala Lumpur- Malaysia<br />
Viva Palestina-Malaysia<br />
E-mail: musamn@gmail.com<br />
<strong>FIMA</strong> <strong>Year</strong><strong>Book</strong> <strong>2010</strong>-<strong>2011</strong><br />
119