Rohingyas donate RM25,000 aid to east coast flood victims

KUALA LUMPUR: The Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (Merhrom) will donate more than RM25,000 worth of essential goods to flood victims in the east coast.
Merhrom president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani said the donations were collected from Rohingya refugees living in Malaysia.
"The items include rice, cooking oil, drinking water, noodles, toiletries, baby diapers and clothes, and were donated mainly by the Rohingya community in Kampung Cheras Baru, Seri Gombak, Hulu Langat and Kampung Pandan," said Zafar.
"We will send a team of 13 people to the east coast this weekend to help distribute the items. We will also be joined by 15 representatives from Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Kesejahteraan 1Malaysia," he said.
The items will be sent to two locations in Kelantan on Saturday, with plans for a similar mission to Pahang once the current project is completed.
"We have already hired a 20-tonne container trailer and five 4-wheel drive vehicles for our mission to Kelantan," Zafar added.
Merhrom had also donated more than RM114,000 worth of goods to flood victims earlier this month.
"We hope our small effort can reduce their suffering, and hope that more people will help the victims even after the flood, as they have to rebuild their homes, not to mention their lives," Zahar said.
Merhrom currently has 1,500 active members, from a total of 35,000 Rohingyas in Malaysia registered under United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).