Mercy Matters: November 2024

Welcome to Mercy Matters! In the November Issue of Mercy Relief's quarterly newsletter, we bring you the latest updates on the progress of our disaster response and development programmes, and local outreach initiatives.

Message from Executive Director

"At Mercy Relief, there is a pivotal shift towards deepening mastery of humanitarian knowledge and adoption of best practices in regional projects. We will continue to add value, not just in the timeliness of response but also in front-to-end continuity in upholding human dignity, empowering lives and establishing normalcy in communities."

Muhammad Ashik
Executive Director

Our Impact in Gaza:

Mercy Relief has remained committed to providing critical relief aid for Palestinians facing the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With your generous donations, we have delivered four tranches of aid, and two field missions to distribute essential resources since November 2023.

As the world marks the one-year anniversary of the current conflict in Gaza, Mercy Relief remains steadfast in addressing the evolving needs of those affected by this protracted crisis.

The Impact of Your Donations:

$408,000 in Aid
Your funding has facilitated the distribution of food, clean water, and sanitation supplies to affected and displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. 

287,227 Lives Touched
Our work focuses on creating meaningful impact where help is needed most. Our aid programmes have reached more than 200,000 Palestinians, offering hope and support to families and individuals struggling to survive amidst the turmoil. 

Extensive Relief Programmes
Our ground missions in Gaza and Palestine are carefully strategised to ensure that we respond effectively to the immediate needs of the communities. Each mission is based on thorough needs assessments, allowing us to identify critical areas of need such as food, medical supplies, shelter, and clean water. This allows us to make meaningful and maximised impact on the ground, and ensure the most vulnerable communities receive help.

We collaborate closely with local organisations to ensure that our efforts are culturally sensitive and directly aligned with addressing pressing needs. Through these efforts, we aim to provide timely relief for those affected by the ongoing crisis.

Bangladesh Floods 2024 Relief Aid

The floods, the severity of which has not been seen since the Great Floods of 1987, have left many with food shortages, rising risks of waterborne diseases, and thousands of acres of destroyed cropland, leaving families without a livelihood and children without access to education.

Mercy Relief was on the ground with its local partner, HEED Bangladesh, distributing relief aid from 9th to 11th September, in the wake of the devastating floods sweeping Bangladesh.

Your generous donations enabled us to initiate the distribution of emergency relief aid, including food and sanitation items, to some 18,000 flood survivors from across 3,000 households.

To continue extending our reach to vulnerable families who need aid most and meet the rising challenges of the situation, we seek your continued support and donations. 

The Mercy in Action Campaign

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Mercy in Action campaign, intended to uplift communities through education programmes. Your support will provide a beacon of hope for the children in post-crisis communities in Indonesia and the West Bank.

Your donations would go towards:

Purchasing School Supplies & Training Aids: With your contribution, we can provide essential educational materials that foster learning and creativity, such as books, writing tools, and learning aids which are vital for restoring a sense of normalcy and sparking curiosity in young minds.

Hiring Teaching Staff: Skilled and motivated educators are crucial for nurturing and guiding students towards a brighter future. Your donations will help us recruit passionate teaching staff who can offer support to children who have experienced significant trauma.

Refurbishing Damaged Classroom Facilities: Many classrooms remain in disrepair, hindering the learning process. Our goal is to create safe and inspiring environments where students can thrive. Funding will go towards fixing infrastructure, ensuring that every child has a safe space to learn.

Launching this campaign, Mercy Relief hosted its awareness project, "Mercy in Action: An Interactive Journey," on October 21st, at the Singapore Management University, providing a tertiary platform to share insights on disaster relief management with enthusiastic undergraduate students seeking to volunteer or join our internship program.

The experiential event offered an immersive journey that took visitors behind the scenes of Mercy Relief's operations. Interactive exhibits highlighted the essential work we undertake to provide relief to communities affected by disasters at every critical stage of a crisis, while also fostering long-term resilience through sustainable development programmes.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us for “Mercy in Action: An Interactive Journey” community fair at SMU. We look forward to your continued support for our campaign to empower post-crisis communities through education.

Thank you for sharing in our mission and learning about the powerful impact we can make together.

Mercy Relief Collaborations:

At Mercy Relief, we are committed to actively engaging with the members of our local community to generate awareness of our mission and the cause we champion. From a fundraising perspective, we were excited to engage and work alongside local community volunteer groups in the months of September and October, building a stronger foundation for long-term funding.

We are actively seeking partners to contribute to our humanitarian missions, through co-fundraising initiatives, community outreach programmes, CSR initiatives or sponsorships of our projects. By joining forces with you, whether you are an individual, or part of a school, tertiary institution, corporation or volunteer group, we expand our reach and pooled resources to multiply our impact and become a powerful force for good.

NUSC Student Fundraiser for Gaza
Mercy Relief successfully partnered with a group of students from NUS College for a fundraiser for Mercy Relief’s Hope for Gaza, West Bank and Palestine Refugees Fund. The innovative students raised awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza through a creative evening featuring arts, crafts, and literature, after months of dedicated efforts and planning.

Al-Nujum & Supplies Drive Fundraiser for Gaza
Mercy Relief collaborated with a passionate group of volunteers from Al-Nujum & Supplies Drive for a day of painting and compassion. Participants created vibrant cloth murals embodying messages of hope and strength for those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing crisis, and embody hope for the future.

A Gift for Juita
We are honoured to continue our support for Madam Jariah and her family in honoring the legacy and generosity of her late daughter, Juita, by supporting their campaign to raise funds for Gaza, West Bank, and Palestine Refugees Fund through the end of November.

'Tis the Season: Make a Difference this Giving Season

As we reflect on the incredible acts of human kindness as well as the devastation disasters have wrought throughout the year of 2024, we invite you to join us on this journey towards a world of compassion and care. 

As the season of joy and togetherness draws near, we are reminded of the true spirit of Christmas—the spirit of giving. This year, through Mercy Relief's Gift of Giving 2024 campaign from 18th November to 31st December 2024, we invite you to share in this spirit by offering hope and relief to communities affected by disasters. In these times of crisis, where homes, livelihoods, and lives are shattered, your generosity becomes a beacon of light, helping families rebuild and find strength in the midst of hardship.

 For many, Christmas is a time for celebration with loved ones. Yet, in disaster-stricken regions, countless families will face the season without the basic necessities: clean water, food, shelter. This festive season, we call upon you to make a meaningful impact by giving the gift of hope and survival. Every donation goes beyond material aid; it restores dignity, brings joy, and renews the faith of those who need it most.

 Join us in spreading hope this Christmas. Let your gift become a symbol of love and compassion, reaching out to those who need it the most. Together, we can transform lives, inspire resilience, and remind the world that the true meaning of Christmas lies in the joy of giving.

MOVE: Revitalising Corporate Social Responsibility

Our corporate donors are essential to sustaining our mission at Mercy Relief. In recognition of our partnerships, we are excited to announce the relaunch of our MOVE (Mercy Overseas Volunteer Expedition) programme following the end of Covid-19 pandemic and isolation, providing an opportunity to align your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts with meaningful social impact.

This programme allows employees to visit our development projects and engage in a real life experience with disaster-stricken and underserved communities through a 5-day educational and impactful itinerary. MOVE offers a unique opportunity to engage your staff in hands-on activities and interaction with the local community cities. Should you require more information, we will be more than happy to customise a travel itinerary and budget.

Mercy Relief Impact Fund

Mercy Relief’s Impact Fund is designed for donors who want to create lasting change. The fund drives our response capacity to reach more communities in need as the world anticipates

Donors will receive updates on field missions, progress on post- disaster programmes, opportunities for volunteer involvement, and invitations to events to meet like minded humanitarians. The Impact Fund is not just a donation; it is an investment in a better future for all and donations are tax-deductible. Together, we can create sustainable impact that transforms lives, globally.

Thank you for standing with us in our mission to uplift communities in need. Together, we continue to provide relief, rebuild lives, and inspire hope across the globe.