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On mission to Gaza, M'sian women battle seasickness, high waves

"During the first leg from Barcelona to Ajaccio, all the participants vomited and were listless when our ship was tossed about by very high waves," said Malaysian delegate Dr Fauziah Mohd Hassan on the tense moments when taking part in the 'Women's Boat to Gaza' (WBG) mission.

As the official doctor on the ship, Fauziah said the turbulent sea conditions for 300 nautical miles from Vell, Barcelona to Ajaccio, France did not rattle her spirit to continue giving treatment and medical aid to the delegates needing them despite being seasick herself.

"God willing, everyone has recovered. Three participants had to be given jabs, this is my first experience giving treatment on a rocking and tossing ship," said Dr Fauziah, a board member of the Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE), when contacted by Bernama, today.

Fauziah, the first Malaysian woman to take part in the humanitarian mission, said their ship 'Zaytouna Oliva' had berthed in Messina, Sicily, in Italy and was scheduled to continue the 1,000 nautical miles journey to Gaza harbour at 8.30am (local time) today.

The WDB voyage started at 8pm on Sept 14 (local time, Barcelona) from Port Vell and stopped at Ajaccio (first leg) on Sept 19 before resuming the journey to Messina (second leg).

The WBG delegation is on a mission to challenge the Israeli blockade on Gaza following land routes to the strip blocked by Israel and Egypt.

"We have only one aim, namely, to thwart the siege of Gaza and want the people there to own what Malaysia and other nations have, freedom, justice and other basic needs," she said.

Fauziah said the 13 delegates on Zaytouna Oliva were from numerous nations and had a crew of three while on board another ship, the Amal Hope, there was Malaysian participant Norsham Abu Bakar together with eight delegates and three crew.

The other delegates are from Tunisia, Israel, Algeria, Canada, Turkey, United States, Sweden, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia to symbolise universal solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Fauziah said the WBG mission was the only chance for her to take part in an international mission using the sea for the first time.

'All in very high spirits'

"All are in very high spirits, united and have high discipline for the journey to Gaza. The journey on the second leg was quite calm in relatively good weather," she said.

Asked on the approach that would be taken to face the Israeli blockade, Fauziah said all the delegates had undergone training and simulation given by an expert from the United States, Lisa Gay Hamilton, on the action that could or could not be taken.

"Yesterday, we underwent a training called 'non-violent activities' whereby we were taught how to tackle a situation peacefully when we are surrounded or detained without resorting to violence, weapons or anger.

"We were taught how to face a situation calmly, full of love and humanitarian feelings despite facing Israel who have weapons," she said.

Meanwhile, MyCare chairperson Associate Professor Dr Hafidzi Mohd Noor said the two Malaysian representatives were not only to represent Malaysia but also Asia.

"Maybe Israel will not give permission but the support of the world communities will put pressure on them. The people of Gaza are making preparations to receive the WBG mission such as putting up banners.

"This mission is very important to Gaza to show that the whole world is focusing attention in giving the right to freedom for the people of Palestine to come and go like other countries," she said.

She said according to the World Health Organisation, Gaza would become an unfit place to live in by 2020 because it did not have basic resources such as clean water supply and medicine due to the Israeli blockade.

- Bernama

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