'Our souls are still in Gaza': Malaysians share painful mission memories
KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian volunteers who recently returned from a month-long humanitarian mission in Gaza say the pain, resilience, and humanity they witnessed will stay with them forever.
Mohd Azizul Hakim Danial, 35, a medical assistant with Mercy Malaysia's Specialised Care Team 5 (SCT 5), and his colleague Nurfirdaus Ibrahim, 32, spoke about their emotional journey in Gaza during an interview on Harian Metro's Apa-Apa Saja podcast.
"The patient fed me a piece of pastry with their own hand — despite clearly not having had enough to eat themselves," said Azizul, recounting a moment that touched him deeply while working in a dialysis unit at a hospital that had previously been bombed.
Both men spent 30 days in Gaza from March 27 to April 26, offering critical medical support amid what they described as a total collapse of the healthcare system.
"We saw with our own eyes how the healthcare system has been destroyed. Many machines are damaged, water supply remains irregular, electricity supply frequently gets interrupted — but patients still seek medical assistance," Azizul said.
In one small act of comfort, they pooled money to buy a birthday cake worth 100 shekels (around RM125) for a local member of staff.
"To us, that may seem ordinary. But to them, it was overwhelming. Some cried — they never imagined someone would remember their birthday," he said.
Azizul recalled speaking to a hospital worker who had been absent for two days.
"She had been arranging the funeral for her entire family," he said.
Despite their suffering, Azizul said the people of Gaza were grateful for Malaysia's support.
"Children would shout, 'I love Malaysia!' when they saw us. That alone made everything feel worthwhile," he said.
The team also compiled data and prepared reports for the World Health Organization (WHO), but both men were disheartened by how little they could do.
"We collected so much, but it all feels like we left them halfway," said Azizul.
Nurfirdaus, who also worked in the dialysis unit, recalled patients walking up to 45km just to receive treatment — with smiles on their faces despite being weak from hunger.
"Some came on donkey carts, others walked for hours. One day, we had to use the same chemical drum for several machines. Staff had to carry water in buckets, adding that everything was done manually," he said.
Nurfirdaus shared the story of a teenage dialysis patient who stood out for his spirit.
"He's been on dialysis for five years and can operate the machine on his own. After his session, he even helps others. He still dreams of a kidney transplant — even though it's nearly impossible in Gaza."
Nurfirdaus said a one-month stint was too short to make any lasting impact on a crumbling health system.
"We made it back, but our souls are still in Gaza," he said.
He also urged Malaysian youth to play their part in humanitarian efforts.
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