Much-needed contribution: Volunteers unpacking aid sent by Kelab Putera 1Malaysia during the Lahad Datu standoff at Felda Sahabat.

LAHAD DATU: Suhana Ahma fans her two-month-old first-born with a piece of cardboard to ward off flies as he sleeps on the concrete floor.

Their home for now is the Cenderawasih community hall located in the massive Felda Sahabat land development scheme (240,000ha), about four times bigger than Singapore island.

Suhala, 24, and her husband, Mohd Yusof Atti, 29, are among 2,000 people from several villages relocated to several community halls here after Sulu gunmen came to shore.

Apart from Cenderawasih, located near the main township, the other centres are Fajar Bakti and Embara Budi, some 20km away.

As they wait out the offensive against the gunmen, the displaced families try to make the best of their disrupted lives.

At Embara Budi, Effa Shamira Pihrin was seen drying her younger brother's diapers.

The nine-year-old said she had been helping to wash and dry the now-tattered diapers for nearly a week since they were relocated to the community hall.

Daily life is still uncomfortable a single toilet is being used by more than 600 people.

As they wait for the hostilities to cease, displaced families worry about their homes and properties but are thankful to be in a safe place.

“We can only pray for the best and that the security forces complete their mission soon,'' said Taiba Majijir, 60, of Kg Tanjung Labian.

• Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world
• Chinese premier criticizes EU move on trade measures
• Justice Department opposes AMR's $20 million severance for CEO Horton
• News Corp to take charge of up to $1.4 billion this quarter
• Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors look for signs in the rally's break
• Unhappy with how your fave series is faring? Amazon gives you a say
• Visa, Mastercard ask U.S. court to declare card fees are lawful
• Wall Street posts first weekly loss since mid-April on Fed angst
• IMF's Lagarde escapes formal investigation in court
• Politics of development pays dividend
• A thematic play seen
• Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
• Getting GST acceptance will be tough
• A yen for the unloved dollar standard
• Bitten by the music bug

• French soldier stabbed on patrol in Paris
• Thousands run final mile of Boston Marathon as memorial
• Trio arrested over London soldier murder

• Sweet revenge as Froch defeats Kessler
• Pandelela-Mun Yee and Yan Yee-Jun Hoong bag bronze medals in Mexico
• World No. 1 Nicol sinks Waters to reach British Open final
• China confident of sweeping aside their final opponents
• Koreans in the final despite Dong-keun’s loss
• Macdonald and Marques share the lead
• McIlroy among big names who miss the cut as Molinari leads
• Kuchar leads in weather-hit second round
• Two tied at the top as rain stops play in the Bahamas
• Nico Rosberg revels in the rain as Mercedes stamp their mark
• Whitmarsh: McLaren’s hopes were too high this season
• Affendi brushes off hand injury to win CP130 race in Terengganu
• Hafizh needs to step up a gear after coming in fifth
• Vignesa right on track to retain GT Open title
• Dragons’ Melton confident of getting the better of Pringle in Game 2

• Please wait.

• Too blessed to be stressed
• Indian warships visit Malaysian waters
• It takes nearly 72 hours to get a new polycarbonate passport now
• Give birth naturally, women urged
• ‘Harry Potter Wong’ casts his spell
• Theme parks and long holiday help fill Johor hotel rooms
• Exemplary educators
• DAP’s Ngeh in hot water over subservient tweet
• Rela man in coma after being rammed by biker
• The Wall Street Journal: Anwar asked Jusuf to broker deal over GE13