Humanitarian Mission in Lebanon and Syria
 
October 2005
Sharaf Ibrahim
Humanitarian Committee
Malaysian Orthopaedic Association
Kuala Lumpur
 
The Malaysian Orthopaedic Association (MOA) is collaborating with the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) to help with the orthopaedic treatment of Palestinian children. The PCRF (www.pcrf.net) was established in 1992 to provide free medical treatment to Palestinian Children. I was in Beirut and Damascus from 30 August to September 4, 2005. Ms Nuha El Masri, the project manager for the PCRF in Lebanon and Syria, has been extremely helpful in co-coordinating this visit.
 

The Corniche, Beirut

We went to Damascus on August 31st. Beirut to Damascus was approximately 3 hours by taxi. It was a scenic route as we were using the mountain highway. Malaysians do not need a visa to enter Syria.


Al Biqa' Valley (Beirut-Damascus Highway)

In Damascus we were warmly welcomed by Dr Ali, the head of the orthopaedic department and Dr Bashar, the paediatric orthopaedic surgeon in Al Mujtahid Hospital, the largest public hospital in Damascus. There are 8 surgeons and 30 residents in the orthopaedic department. The hospital is undergoing renovation and has about 500 beds. We agreed that the MOA could help by sending a team for scoliosis surgery and shoulder/knee arthroscopic procedures. This would also include lectures tentatively during the spring of 2006.


Al Mujtahid Hospital, Damascus


Operating theater, Al Mujtahid Hospital, Damascus

Damascus is an ancient capital with the Old Quarters dominated by the grand Omayad Mosque and the bustling Suq Hamidiyah.


The Omayad Mosque, Damascus


Suq Hamidiyah, Damascus

On September 2, we visited Bait Atfal As Samood kindergarten in Shatila. Bait Atfal As Samood has been supported for many years by the Malaysian Social Research Institute founded by the late Dr Elijah Gordon.


Entrance of Bait Atfal As Samood, Shatila, Beirut

Shatila and Sabra were the sites of the massacre of 2,062 Palestinians and Lebanese by Phanlangist militias supported by the Israeli Defence Forces on September 16, 1982.


Shatila, Beirut


Palestinian children in the kindergarten of Bait Atfal As Samood in Shatila.

We then visited Haifa Hospital in Borj Al Barajneh. This is a small hospital of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society with about 50 beds. Living conditions in the refugee camps are poor with thousands of people cramped in a small area.


Haifa Hospital, Borj Al Barajneh


Grocery store, Borj Al Barajneh.


Living quarters flanking a narrow alley in Borj Al Barajneh.

How else can you help?

Sponsoring the education or medical treatment of a Palestinian child or a monetary donation is always welcome.

Please contact the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (www.pcrf.com) or the Malaysian Social Relief Institute (msri@po.jaring.my) for further information.

Future Missions

We are also collaborating with London-based Dr Ang Swee Chai of Medical Aid for Palestine to help in training Palestinian orthopaedic surgeons in Malaysia.

Other future missions may include Darfur in Sudan and Cambodia in collaboration with Mercy Malaysia.