Czech Republic Keen To Continue Humanitarian Aid To Malaysia

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- The Czech Republic is interested to continue its humanitarian aid to Malaysia following years of successful cooperation with various non-governmental organisations (NGO) in the country. Its Foreign Minister, Lubomir Zaoralek said he was satisfied with projects that were sponsored by the Czech Republic since 2006, including for the Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. "I thank them for ensuring the money reached the needy ones. I'm glad to know that the money was used in the right way and I told these NGOs to help and cooperate with us so that we can (continue to) contribute," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview during his two-day visit to Malaysia here recently. During the visit, Zaoralek said he met with several NGOs where he expressed interest in continuing to cooperate with them in the fields of health and education. Between 2013-2014, the Czech Republic contributed US$119,143 (3,000,000 CZK)for Enhancing Access to Health Education, Health Care and Referral Services for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Malaysia. The project was carried out in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Meanwhile in 2010-2012, the republic, through Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation Malaysia, was involved in providing basic healthcare for refugees and education projects for the Myanmar refugees in Malaysia. The republic contributed US$127,099 (3,200,000 CZK) for these two projects. The Czech Republic pilot humanitarian project in Malaysia, Mobile Healthcare Clinic for Refugees, ran for three years until 2009, in which the country contributed US$54,416 (1,370,000 CZK). --BERNAMA