Aman Palestine (AP) Enters Gaza After 30 Hour Ordeal

GAZA, April 16 (Bernama) -- The Aman Palestin (AP) VIII humanitarian mission has finally entered the Gaza Strip after a 30-hour trip from Kuala Lumpur. It managed to cross the Rafah border after passing through 14 blockades. AP chief excutive officer Awang Suffian Awang Piut said even though the trip was a long journey, was worth the wait as the team was received by Gaza's influential leader Dr Abdul Rahman Jamal, who is also the chairman of the Darul Quran and Sunnah. "We feel honoured that our visit was received by such an influential man here. We are all humbled by his presence," he said in a short ceremony held after entering the border here. The 21-strong Malaysian delegation includes businessmen, officials and media members with the youngest volunteer, Muhammad Razique, just two years of age. The AP VIII Humanitarian Mission is in Gaza to deliver medical supplies, generator sets, a water desalination station and meet 500 AP sponsored orphans. The team will also visit a few agricultural and livestock areas in Gaza to help set up small businesses for the Palestinians here, who have been under blockade since 2009. Aman Palestine, the first Malaysian-initiated organisation in the Gaza Strip, started its charitable activities in 2006 primarily in implementing projects towards improving medical services and conditions for refugees. -- BERNAMA