His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented for the establishment of two funds named Humanitarian Fund for the People of Gaza and Humanitarian Fund for Victims of Bopha, Philippines for three months.

The launching of both funds was held yesterday with Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Hj Abdullah, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports as the co-advisor for both funds. Also present at the ceremony were Datin Paduka Hajah Adina binti Othman, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports as the deputy advisor to the committee.

Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair in his speech described the suffering and needs of the people of Gaza as well as the Philippines.

"As we know from the many electronic media including Internet and print media, the Zionist regime of Israel had launched military attacks and bombed people in Gaza, Palestine for eight days from Nov 14 to 22, which is believed to have originated from the disapproval of Israel on the continuous efforts of Palestine to become a member of the United Nations since 2011.

"Besides the loss of lives and injuries to thousands of people in Gaza that comprise of children, senior citizens and women, thousands were also left homeless as well as without infrastructure and facilities in facing the cold weather. The bombing had also struck a number of mosques and a health centre," the minister added.

While in the Philippines, the minister said, Typhoon Bopha struck the southern island of the Philippines. The typhoon has caused the death of more than 500 people and almost 900 are missing.

As reported, the minister said, "The typhoon has destroyed houses, infrastructure and public buildings covering 700 kilometres in the southern island of Mindanao. More than 400,000 residents are homeless and only receiving food rations and limited water supply. Typhoon Bopha also triggered flooding and landslides. Following the devastation, the Philippines government has sought immediate assistance from the international community in the form of food, camp, water treatment system and medicine."

To sympathise with the suffering and hardship faced by the people of Gaza by the attack from Israel and also the suffering faced by the people in the southern island of Mindanao, the minister said "His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented for the establishment of two funds named Humanitarian Fund for the People of Gaza and Humanitarian Fund for Victims of Bopha, Philippines for a period of three months starting from December 10, 2012 until March 9, 2013."

A National Committee for the Humanitarian Fund for the People of Gaza and Humanitarian Fund for Victims of Bopha, Philippines was set up. It is chaired by Awang Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yunos, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Pg Hj Anuar bin Pg Seri Indera Pg Hj Ismail, Acting Deputy Permanent secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs as a representative of the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The meeting was aimed at discussing all matters concerning with efforts to raise monies for both funds from the people of Brunei Darussalam to help ease the burden and suffering of the victims of war in Gaza and victims of Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines.

Members of the public can contribute to both funds through donation boxes in banks, public buildings as well as shopping complexes nationwide or send the donation to the Secretariat of the funds at the Department of Community Development, second floor of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. - Borneo Bulletin (11 December 2012)