Sets up camp in Lombok

> More than 14,000 premises destroyed by quake, says its team leader

PETALING JAYA: Mercy Malaysia has set up a base camp at Desa Pemenang, Lombok Utara to provide urgent medical aid to some 300 families affected by the recent earthquake.

Mercy exco member Norazam Ab Samah, who is also the team leader, said more than 14,000 houses, places of worship, schools and public buildings were damaged in the earthquake.

“Many homes have totally collapsed like a house of cards, while schools and temples are not safe for use. The island of Lombok, in the West Nusa Tenggara province is still in a state of emergency until Aug 11, with many villagers camping in open spaces for safety.”

He added there are 17 personnel in total representing Mercy Malaysia and its local partner PKPU Human Initiative.

Donations can be made to Mercy Humanitarian Fund (Maybank 5621 7950 4126). More information is available at www.mercy.org.my.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the government has yet to receive the go-ahead from the Indonesian government to send aid to Lombok.

She said the government had expressed its readiness and has offered assistance to the Indonesian government.

Speaking to reporters at her office in Parliament, she said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had offered aid and conveyed his condolences to the Indonesian government.

She presented RM2,000 for the funeral of Siti Nur Iesmawida Ismail, a Malaysian woman who was killed in the first Lombok earthquake.