Mercy sends aid to Lombok, Laos

KUALA LUMPUR: Mercy Malaysia will distribute essential items worth RM40,000 to 1,000 victims of the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit the island of Lombok in Indonesia on Sunday.
"The items will be distributed from an evacuation centre in Desa Sembalon village near the Kecamatan Sembalon district," said Mercy exco member Norazam Ab Samah today.
"The number of people affected is expected to increase over the coming week as the team gains access to more villages.
"Our team of four will assist in the distribution with a local partner for one week."
He said Mercy would need at least RM250,000 to enable it to provide assistance to the affected people.
The remains of Malaysian hiker Siti Nur Iesmawida Ismail, who was killed in the Lombok quake at Mount Rinjani, arrived here at 6.57pm and was buried at the Batu Muda cemetery in Batu Caves, Selangor, in the evening.
AFP reported that more than 500 hikers and their guides have been evacuated from the mountain.
"A total of 543 hikers have been evacuated, they arrived last night," national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
"There are now six people left ... they are all healthy and safe."
Hikers were able to start climbing down on Monday after guides discovered an alternate route that was unaffected by the landslides.
Most of the trekkers reached the base of the mountain by late Monday evening, said Gusti Lanang Wiswananda, a spokesman for the Mataram search-and-rescue agency.
"They were all tired, but in good condition and were checked by our medical teams upon arrival," he said.
Meanwhile, Mercy's team leader for flood relief in Laos, Ahmad Faezal Mohamed, said their team of five will be at the Attapeu provincial hospital for at least two weeks.
"The first mobile clinic will start using a tent, as the evacuation centres are already overcrowded.
"Our medical team will provide treatment for upper respiratory infections, muscle aches, skin conditions and chronic diseases.
Maybank Foundation CEO Shahril Azuar Jimin today presented a contribution of RM200,000 to Mercy for its relief work in Laos.