KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22, 2008: Every year, thousands of Malaysians in the southern state of Johor brace themselves for the floods.

Each time heavy rains pours down on them, causing water levels to rise, spill over, and consume lives, homes and sources of income, flood victims are left in a lurch.

The government’s initiative of introducing new housing areas for Johorians living in flood-prone areas should be commended. In the meantime, there is an immediate need to reduce the affects of floods that will inevitably put the residents of Johor at risk.

MERCY Malaysia, as a non-profit organisation that provides medical relief and sustainable health-related development for vulnerable communities, seeks ways to help ease human suffering.

Thus, a special project to aid flood victims in Johor has been introduced by MERCY Malaysia and partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

As an organisation that places extreme importance on corporate responsibility, the partnership between PwC and MERCY Malaysia is solidified with the latter’s sponsorship of two mobile Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities worth RM100,000.

“Water and sanitation are critical for survival in the early stages of a disaster, as the affected community is more susceptible to illness and death from disease, largely due to inadequate sanitation, inadequate water supplies and poor hygiene.

“The main objective of water supply and sanitation programmes in disasters is to reduce the transmission of faeco-oral disease and exposure to disease-bearing vectors … “ The Sphere Project, (pg 56, 2004 edition).

Undoubtedly, these units will be much sought after by affected communities in any disaster - including the flood victims in Johor - to minimise diseases and fulfil human needs.

Each unit is equipped with a toilet, shower and basin facilities. It also has an internal plumbing system that includes sewerage, roofing and lighting systems.

With a stress on hygiene, the mobile unit is a unique structure that can be assembled when it is needed and transported to where affected communities are located, for example, at relocation centres.

And when the floods subside and Johorians return to their homes, the unit can be dismantled and stored, to be used again in future when the need arises.

MERCY Malaysia looks forward to more rewarding partnerships with PwC for the benefit of any vulnerable community that needs humanitarian aid - in Malaysia and beyond.