S’pore charity RLAF to focus on long-term recovery and rebuilding in Gaza

SINGAPORE – Singapore charity Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) is focusing on long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts in Gaza, with new projects aimed at supporting healthcare and education.

These will be two key areas essential to helping affected families rebuild their lives, it said in a media release on Nov 3.

For instance, RLAF is working with Humanity Matters, a Singapore non-profit organisation focusing on disaster relief efforts, and the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), to set up mobile health clinics to provide maternal and child health services, vaccinations and basic treatment. These mobile units will also train local healthcare workers.

It is also exploring ways to provide tents and shelters, and establish a proper kitchen facility in Gaza, while also looking at collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in other areas, such as education.

In its media release, RLAF said its representatives visited Unicef and ERC in Egypt from Oct 28 to Nov 1.

Their visit coincided with Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim’s official visit to Egypt from Oct 31 to Nov 3.

During the trip, the RLAF delegation – led by chairman Abdul Razak Maricar and chief executive officer Adnan A. Hamid – met Unicef and ERC officials in Cairo, visited aid warehouses and observed the delivery of humanitarian supplies.

The team also briefed Associate Professor Faishal on how contributions from Singapore have been used to provide food and medical aid to affected families.

The foundation previously announced it had allocated more than $2.4 million through its Aid for Gaza 2025 fund-raising campaign.

ERC is managing the delivery of aid through the North Sinai hub and Rafah corridor, and working with international partners to get supplies into Gaza, RLAF said.

Prof Faishal said he was heartened to see RLAF’s strong partnerships with Unicef and ERC to ensure that aid continues to reach families in need effectively.

Mr Adnan added: “By working directly with Unicef and ERC, we make sure every dollar donated is used effectively to help children and families in Gaza.”

Prof Faishal also shared highlights of his visit to the ERC Operations Centre and Packing Centre in a Facebook post on Nov 3.

In the post, he said Singapore remains committed to supporting humanitarian efforts in Gaza and will continue to work closely with regional partners like Egypt.

He added: “This support comes not only from our Government, but also from Singaporeans – across races and faiths. Each contribution signals a belief that our shared humanity must always prevail.”