Second Mercy team in Lombok

> Members arrive to assist quake victims by providing humanitarian aid

PETALING JAYA: Mercy Malaysia has sent a second team to Lombok to assist victims of the recent earthquake.

Mercy exco member Norazam Ab Samah, who is also the team leader, said the airport there was still badly congested with tourists and visitors scrambling to leave the island.

Norazam, who arrived in Lombok at 8pm on Monday with another team member, were joined by a team of 15 people from Mercy Malaysia’s local partner, PKPU Human Initiative.

“People were just camping out in the open, sleeping under makeshift tents of tarpaulins. Children and senior citizens were sleeping on the cold hard ground,” Norazam said, stating that there is an urgent need for shelter, toilet systems and drinking water.

With many homes totally destroyed, Mercy Malaysia hopes to be able to provide immediate humanitarian assistance in the form of temporary shelter, hygiene kits and blankets.

“It gets quite cold at night as Lombok is situated in a hilly zone. Many children and babies were crying at night because of the changes in temperature.

“Many families left their homes in a hurry when the ground started shaking, which is a good thing as most of the deaths were caused by falling parts of buildings,”said Norazam.

The organisation has established a campaign to raise funds for the affected communities.

Donations can be made to MERCY Humanitarian Fund (Maybank 5621 7950 4126) on Malaysia’s website www.mercy. org.my.

All contributions are taxexempted.

The Malaysian Embassy said it has managed to locate 179 Malaysians here who are reported to be safe.

As of 10pm on Monday, the embassy said the Malaysians were in various parts of Lombok, especially in Gili Trawangan.

“Some Malaysians have headed home via the Lombok International Airport while some went to Bali to take flights via the Ngurah Rai International Airport,” the embassy said in a statement.

“Embassy officers are in Lombok and Bali to give consular assistance.”

The evacuation of Malaysians and others to Bangsal Port by Indonesian authorities had to be postponed on Monday and resumed yesterday.

“Malaysians who lost their travel documents are advised to contact embassy officers,” the statement said.

“Those who plan to head to Lombok should keep up to date with the latest happenings and register with the embassy,” it said.

Villagers in Desa Pemenang, North Lombok, salvaging some of their belongings from their houses yesterday. An area in Desa Pemenang of the North Lombok where all the houses were levelled by the quake.