FILE photo. Volunteers gather to distribute foods to flood victims on a flooded road in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, on Sept 14, 2024. - AP Photo
PHNOM PENH: (Bernama) Malaysians’ compassion and bravery transcended borders, including Myanmar, where a few travelled on rickety boats along rough rivers to deliver aid to flood victims in the Ayeyarwady Delta Region, impacted by Typhoon Yagi.
The Yangon-based Malaysian Association of Myanmar (MAM) led a successful fundraising campaign, with the support of the Malaysian Myanmar Business Chamber, raising RM36,000 to provide aid to villagers in Than Lwin Ngu Village in Danuphyu Division.
In addition, Myanmar’s KBZ Bank along with MyMedicine donated medical supplies to the project.
A convoy of 20 Malaysians, including Malaysian embassy staff in Yangon on Sunday (Sept 29) swung into action to transport oil, rice, beans and pulses for 500 families which could benefit 1,300 people who bore the brunt of last month’s typhoon.
"We could not mobilise support to other badly-flooded areas because of security and poor road networks. So, we decided to visit Ayeyarwady Delta Region, which was also badly damaged.
"Malaysians had to travel by boats as there was no other access into the area and the water level was still high,” Malaysian Charge d' Affaires Johan Ariff Abdul Razak told Bernama from Yangon.
Ayeyarwady Delta, nicknamed the "rice bowl of Myanmar”, where communities largely rely on rice-planting and fishing, was hit by Cyclone Nargis in 2008, killing more than 100,000 people.
And in September, another grim episode jolted their lives after Typhoon Yagi swept across the country.
Myanmar farmers lost nearly 200,000 hectares of paddy-planting area and nearly 300 people perished in the disaster.
In the region, Vietnam was also ravaged by Typhoon Yagi, while Laos suffered the tail end of it.
"When the typhoon hit last month, some of our members got to know that Than Lwin Ngu village is in dire need of humanitarian assistance as not many people were aware of their situation.
"Houses were destroyed and they were cut off from the mainland by a river.
"We went to the village via long boats and small fishing boats, and distributed the supplies to all the affected villagers.
"They were very appreciative of our efforts and from the smiles on their faces and laughters of the children, it was a sight that went deep into our hearts," MAM president Lay Goon told this news agency.
The MAM volunteers successfully executed their post-flood relief mission in the delta region despite the threatening weather conditions.
"During challenges like these, Malaysians demonstrate compassion to help people reduce their misery.
"The need for assistance is great now. Incidentally, misfortunes like these allow Malaysians to show they care for the people of Myanmar.
"Malaysians have not neglected or forgotten them, we stand in solidarity with Myanmar during this hardship,” said Johan. - Bernama
