KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA) has mobilised its immediate aid to assist flood victims in the East Coast states.
Its president, Dr Mohd Daud Sulaiman, said that among the aid to be distributed to flood victims at the temporary relief centres are dry food packs, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat meals, baby essentials kits, mattresses, blankets, and other urgent necessities.
"For the initial flood relief, MRA has begun distributing 6,000 ready-to-eat food packs nationwide. This will be followed by the immediate distribution of 2,500 hygiene kits," he said in a statement.
He said MRA is committed to its humanitarian mission in assisting flood victims and establishing close cooperation with authorities such as the National Disaster Management Agency and the Social Welfare Department to ensure the smooth implementation of the aid and recovery mission.
"This time, MRA, in collaboration with the telecommunications company CelcomDigi, will set up mobile phone charging counters at selected temporary relief centres. This will help reduce the anxiety of flood victims and allow them to communicate with their family and friends.
"These counters, equipped with generators, will also ensure they remain operational even in the absence of electricity."
In addition, he said Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) has donated RM1 million to MRA to assist in addressing this year's floods.
"This contribution ensures that flood victims receive aid while at the temporary relief centres and after they return home (post-flood).
"This is the third year that PNB has provided flood donations to MRA to be distributed to the public to help ease their burden."
For the record, last year MRA spent RM2.5 million on flood victims, funded by contributions from Malaysians and corporate partners, to provide food and drinks, house repair services, electrical wiring repairs, distribution of cooking equipment and gas, deployment of volunteers to clean homes, waste management, and the provision of mobile health clinic services in the flood-affected states.
"We call upon Malaysians to jointly support this noble effort through contributions and solidarity to ease the burden of flood victims," he said.