A Muslim Aid delegation has returned successfully from Gaza after crossing the Rafah border in Egypt and spending two days in the war torn region. The team, lead by Psychologist and trustee Dr Jafer Qureshi visited Gaza to see how funds raised from Muslim Aid's emergency appeal in January 2009 was being used to fund rehabilitation work and long term development projects in the region. It was also a chance to see how Muslim Aid's on going projects had been affected by the conflict which destroyed 20,000 homes and 4,000 buildings.
Abdul Gani Hussain, Muslim Aid's Head of Emergency Response, first visited the region to deliver emergency relief with partner GlobalMedic after the conflict broke out in January 2009. Since then, Muslim Aid made several appeals to donors to help fund post rehabilitation work which focused on child trauma care and providing clean water supplies.
"With the =A32,000,000 raised by our donors for the appeal and the =A3300,000 pledged for a water purification plant at our fundraising dinner 'An Evening for the Children of Gaza, we really wanted to show our donors that their money is going a long way" said Abdul Gani Hussain.
The team visited the Palestine Trauma Centre which is delivering psychological care and trauma counselling to children affected by the conflict. Dr Qureshi held training sessions with psychologists at the centre to improve skills and share information.
They also visited Nour El Marefa school which is supporting special needs children and Rainbow Family orphans, providing educational support and mentoring to motivate children to stay at school. At Khan Yunis, the team visited the water plant which is providing clean water for over 250,000 homes, schools and mosques. The money is being used to continually upgrade the plant and to carry out regular maintenance work. The team also witnessed Muslim Aid's Al Huda bakery which is continuing to distribute sweet and savoury pies to poor school children in the region.
"It is wonderful to see how projects progressing so well. All our partners and staff were so grateful that we had taken the time to visit and were so grateful to our donors for giving them hope at such a bleak time. At home, it's hard to see that you're making a difference but when you see the smiles, it shows we are doing something right" said Dr Jafer Qureshi, team leader.