Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – MERCY Malaysia’s flood relief efforts in Johor are now into its seventh day. Having provided medical and humanitarian aid to approximately 9,000 people in more than 10 flood-hit areas in the state, MERCY Malaysia is now appealing to the public for donations to continue its efforts.

Since 19th December 2006, MERCY Malaysia has deployed 78 of its volunteers of which 15 are equipped with medical expertise. 32 of its non-medical volunteers are members from the PETRONAS Adventure Team and together they have assisted in distributing hygiene kits including relief items such as mats, blankets, drinking water and milk products. A total of RM 140,000 has been utilised for these relief efforts.

“While we are continuing with our relief efforts, we need to look at providing sustainable aid for the recovery phase. The distribution of hygiene kits is important at this emergency phase but we must also look into offering sustainable aid – in terms of the water supply, for example. Therefore, our team of water experts has already begun to drill a well in one of the evacuation centres,” said Datuk Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, President of MERCY Malaysia.

“We are also planning to develop community-based disaster management programmes while conducting hazard mapping training with communities in the vulnerable areas as part of our total disaster risk management approach. This will provide education and information to communities as it is an important stage in ensuring preparedness and disaster mitigation.”

The first team to respond from MERCY Malaysia was its Johor chapter that mobilised a team on the 19th of December 2006 and assisted communities in the Johor Bahru vicinity. Three days later, two relief teams from MERCY Malaysia headquarters were deployed, headed by Datuk Dr. Jemilah Mahmood.

The regions that received assistance from MERCY Malaysia included Johor Bahru, Kota Tinggi, Segamat, Lenga, Sungai Telor, the Muar district, Pagoh, Bukit Gambir, Bukit Kepong, Gombang and Batu Pahat.

For areas inaccessible by land, MERCY Malaysia was able to distribute relief and medical supplies to approximately 200 people in Sungai Telor with assistance from Angkatan Tentera Malaysia.

MERCY Malaysia also flew medical teams into Kampung Tui, Lenga, to deliver medical aid. This helicopter lift assistance was made possible by PLUS Expressway Helicopters, as part of logistics support efforts provided by UEM Group and Khazanah Nasional. Apart from helicopter assistance, lorries were also provided courtesy of Gapima Sdn Bhd, another logistics company of UEM Group and Khazanah Nasional, to ensure that the distribution of relief items and food supplies were delivered to the beneficiaries.

Additionally, MERCY Malaysia deployed its technical team to Pagoh at Kompleks Sukan Pagoh to provide a sustainable water supply through the drilling of a well to circumvent the water shortage in the centre and the surrounding areas. Soil boring rigs were provided by UEM Group and Khazanah Nasional to assist the drilling of the water wells. Approximately 1,500 people will benefit from this water source.

Over the coming weekend, MERCY Malaysia will deploy its Mental Health Support team to the state to conduct therapy programmes for the children as part of its psychosocial support for the affected communities.

In terms of monetary contributions, MERCY Malaysia as to date has received USD 30,000 from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and RM 30,000 from the Nanyang Foundation. However more assistance is needed to enable the continuation of MERCY Malaysia’s efforts. Therefore, MERCY Malaysia is appealing to the public to help fund its efforts in assisting our fellow citizens in the south by contributing through MERCY Malaysia. Donations received will ensure the procurement of relief items and medical supplies and provide sustainable aid to the affected communities.

MERCY Malaysia is a medical organization that provides medical and humanitarian aid in crisis and non-crisis situations. We serve communities living in remote areas in Malaysia by providing primary and specialised healthcare that includes dental, eye and reproductive healthcare.

MERCY Malaysia is also active internationally and has sent relief missions to Kosovo, Cambodia, Indonesia (Maluku Island, Nias, Aceh and Jogjakarta), Afghanistan, Turkey, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Iran, Sudan, North Korea, Pakistan, Maldives, Lebanon and the Philippines.

Our services include Emergency Medical Relief, Psychosocial Intervention, Humanitarian Relief and Recovery, Disaster Preparedness, Prevention and Mitigation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, and Capacity Building. Our focus for the future will be to ensure that vulnerable communities are better prepared through risk education reduction and disaster preparedness.