MERCY Malaysia Appeals for Public Donations to Support the Flood Relief Fund

4 February 2011 - MERCY Malaysia is continuing its flood relief efforts in Johor, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. MERCY Malaysia has currently moved its relief operations to Pagoh, Johor, Malaysia since we were in Johor on 31 January 2011 while we are currently also in Ampara and Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

“Yesterday, our MERCY Malaysia volunteers –and another NGO called IKRAM - packed 709 hygiene kits and distributed 292 units to the evacuation centres in Kg. Jawa Lenga, Sekolah Kebangsaan Gombang and Felda Lenga. Today, we distributed 234 kits at Dewab Serbaguna Pagoh, SK Kg Baharu Bt 28, Balairaya Bt 29, Balai Masjid Lenga, SJKC Lenga, SK Agama Lenga, Balairaya Batu 23 and Balairaya Kg Jayor,” said MERCY Malaysia President, Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus.

 

“We couldn’t reach Kg. Jawa Lenga until we obtained boats as the village was cut off by the flood waters of approximately 1.6 metres high. Our teams have been actively working on the ground since 31 January 2011, and addressing these logistical challenges are critical in making sure we reach the flood survivors quickly and provide timely assistance,” he said.

 

“According to the Pagoh Flood Operation Centre, there are more than 7,000 people displaced in Pagoh area with approximately 1,900 families affected, and we anticipate medical needs arising among the displaced survivors. Since yesterday, we’ve conducted our mobile outreach clinics in Kg Jawa Lenga and Felda Lenga,” he added.

 

Having previous knowledge and experience in the area has certainly helped the organisation respond better, Dato’ Dr. Faizal admitted. “Since the previous floods in Johor in 2006, MERCY Malaysia has actively maintained its preparedness activities with the Johor communities and local authorities, and this has helped us to better anticipate and support their needs now,” he said.

 

Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, the MERCY Malaysia team has completed the distribution of hygiene kits to the affected in Ampara and Batticaloa, in collaboration with the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA). According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), as of 4 February 2011 a total of 236,894 people from 62,706 families have been affected. From this number, 43,741 people have been affected in Ampara and another 44,725 in Batticaloa. Ampara and Batticaloa are listed in the highest areas with displaced persons.

 

On 1 February 2011, the Flood Relief Fund was launched to support MERCY Malaysia’s efforts to sustain its domestic and overseas floods response.

 

Concerned individuals and organisations can donate to the Flood Relief Fund through the following bank accounts:

MAYBANK (account name: MERCY HUMANITARIAN FUND, account number: 5621-7950-4126, ABA Swift Code: MBBEMYKLA), or

CIMB Bank (account name: MERCY Malaysia, account number: 1424-000-6561053, ABA Swift Code: CIBBMYKL).

Donations via cheques are payable to MERCY MALAYSIA.

To donate online, please visit www.mercy.org.my.

 

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About MERCY Malaysia

 

MERCY Malaysia is a non‐profit organisation focusing on providing medical relief, sustainable health-related development and risk reduction activities for vulnerable communities in both crisis and non-crisis situations. MERCY Malaysia recognises the value of working with partners and volunteers as well as providing opportunities for individuals to serve with professionalism. We uphold the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief and hold ourselves accountable to our donors and beneficiaries. As a non‐profit organisation, MERCY Malaysia relies solely on funding and donations from organisations and generous individuals to continue our services to provide humanitarian assistance to our beneficiaries.

 

 

For further information, kindly contact:

Juanita Johari, General Manager, Communications and Fundraising, MERCY Malaysia

Level 2, Podium Block, City Point, Kompleks Dayabumi, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, 50050 KL.

T: 6-03-2273 3999, F: 6-03-2272 3812, E: juanita@mercy.org.my W: www.mercy.org.my

Important Note to Media: Usage of Wordmark MERCY Malaysia

 

In order to avoid confusion with other organisation(s) that uses “Mercy” as the organisation’s name or part of the organisation’s name, please take note that in addressing the name of our organisation, the wordmark for MERCY Malaysia is with capitalised “MERCY”, followed by the word “Malaysia”. When describing the organisation, the term “MERCY Malaysia” must always be used in full, and should not be partially referred to as “MERCY”, or “Mercy”. Thank you for your cooperation.