With the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023 and the National Committee for the Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023 were officially established.
The launching ceremony for the SMS Brunei Prihatin Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023 was held yesterday, in efforts to provide facilities for the public to donate to the fund, organised together with Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd (DST), Progresif Sdn Bhd and imagine Sdn Bhd.
The collection will run for three months from yesterday to January 18, 2024.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad officiated the launch.
The launch of the Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023 is aimed to collect financial contributions from the public to help ease the suffering of Palestinians affected by the current conflict.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi said, “Until October 17, large scale bombardment on Hamas at the Gaza strip has caused 3,000 deaths and 12,500 people injured. The figure is expected to increase. The launch of the Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023 is to help Palestinians in crisis and suffering.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) who held a discussion to assess the need for the establishment of the Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023, agreed to its establishment based on several evaluations. “First is the diplomatic ties between Brunei and Palestine. Both are Islamic countries and the Sultanate established diplomatic ties with Palestine in 1994. Financial assistance and contributions have been channelled to Palestine 15 times directly to the citizens, government or international agencies like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) or the World Bank,” Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi said.
“Second, the scale of the disaster, including the number of injured or killed.
“Third is the immediate need of assistance where Palestinians appealed to the international community for assistance of the urgent need of food, non-food assistance, health and other needs.”
The National Committee for Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023 also met yesterday at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium to discuss matters related to efforts to collect donations from the people and residents of Brunei as well as the procedures in handing out the donations through official channels as a whole-of-nation approach.
The meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim and Permanent Secretary (Community) at the MCYS Hajah Nor Ashikin binti Haji Johari. Members included other government agencies, as well as from NGOs and the private sector.
The Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, who are also co-advisors of the National Committee for Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023, were also present.
The meeting agreed to the three month period aimed to provide ample opportunity for people to contribute directly and to enable various parties to organise charitable activities to collect monetary donations.
Those intending to hold a donation collection for the fund can apply for permission from the Community Development Department (JAPEM) as the Secretariat of the National Committee for the fund, if the net collection is 100 per cent to be fully donated to the fund. Individuals, associations and other registered agencies intending to donate partially from the net proceeds obtained from holding activities in the form of public entertainment are recommended to apply permission in advance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The public wishing to donate via online can do so through Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), account number 00-001-01-0089051 (Tabung Kemanusiaan Rakyat Palestin di Gaza 2023) or through BIBD QuickPay by scanning the QR code on the posters and stickers of the Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023.
Donation boxes will also be provided at mosques, suraus, religious halls, bank buildings, as well as commercial and public buildings throughout the Sultanate.
The public can also send donations to the secretariat of the humanitarian fund at JAPEM. – James Kon
