Aid for all flood victims

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian donations to help Bosnia and Herzegovina in the wake of the country's worst flood disaster, will go help both the Muslim and Christian victims.
In thanking the Malaysian public for donations to help his country, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Malaysia, Tarik Bukvic said the Bosnian population comprised about 55% Muslims and 45% Christians.
Clarifying misconceptions about the racial and religious make-up of his country, he said Bosnia was not unlike Malaysia and its population is divided into three ethnic groups – Bosniak who are Muslims, as well as Serbians and Croatians who are Christians.
"The one good thing about the flood is that it has in a way helped break the racial and religious barrier and united the different communities in Bosnia in the face of adversity" he said, when receiving a RM50,000 donation on behalf of theSun-Mercy Malaysia's Bosnia Flood Disaster Relief Fund, from Yayasan Pendidikan Cheras (YPC).
He said after the 1993-1995 war, the process of reconciliation and trust had been extremely slow but the tragic floods had changed the situation.
"When the floods hit, racial and religious barriers were forgotten and people went to help their neighbours regardless of who they were," Bukvic said.
"Some of the villages were Muslim majority areas while around the hilly sides were the Serbians and Croatians area, but when the floods hit, the Serbians and Croatians immediately came to help the villagers.
"Likewise when the Dopoj, a 99% Serbian area was badly affected, the Muslims were the first people to get there to help them," Bukvic added.
Meanwhile, YPC chairman Datuk Syed Ali Al-Habshee said although his foundation usually focused on charity for education, it nevertheless decided to contribute towards the Bosnia flood disaster victims this time.
"We feel that the Bosnian people are very much in need of help now," he said, adding that YPC had also contributed to help Bosnia during the war back in the 1990's.
"We hope more Malaysians will partake in this campaign as every dollar will help as many of the victims have nothing now...no jobs, no homes and no running water," said Syed Ali, adding that Bumiwangsa Sdn Bhd, which is run by his brother had also contributed RM50,000 to the fund.
According to the United Nations, at least US$210 million (RM700 million) is required for Bosnia alone to cover immediate priority needs in the next six months for shelter, food, water, health and agriculture supplies, medicine, debris removal and mine clearance.
It was reported that 800 sq km of flood-affected areas are now suspected to contain mines and unexploded ordinance, making the situation dangerous and clean-up operations costly, difficult and lengthy.
With YPC's contribution, the fund now stands at RM640,000.