Malaysian Relief Agency launches 'Help Yemen' campaign

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 -- The Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA) and the Yemeni embassy in Malaysia have launched the ‘Help Yemen’ humanitarian aid campaign to assist 22,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Yemen following the war that has been going on in the country since 2015.

MRA secretary-general Dr Shahrizal Azwan Samsudin expects RM4.6 million would be needed to help those in need.

He added that since the MRA began channelling humanitarian aid to the country six years ago, more than RM7 million had been used to assist a total of 273,209 people in 13 districts in Yemen (including villagers and IDPs).

"The cumulative effects of the conflict of more than six years have resulted in about 233,000 deaths, including 131,000 people who lack food, healthcare services and infrastructure.

 "The campaign is also assisted by Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE), Pertubuhan Himpunan Lepasan Institusi Pendidikan Malaysia (HALUAN), Global Peace Mission (GPM), Yayasan Pembangunan Al-Tawasul (ALTAWASUL), Initiative for Malaysian Humanitarian (INSAN) and Yemen Community in Malaysia,” he said in a statement here today.

He explained that among the MRA projects in Yemen included building eight solar-powered water pumps, goat breeding, emergency food packs, static clinics, medical assistance, Ramadan donations as well as sacrificial rituals.

-- BERNAMA