KUALA LUMPUR: Residents of Tiong Nam here, who were badly affected by the floods in the middle of December, 2021 spent Saturday (Feb 26) morning participating in outreach activities by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society Kuala Lumpur (MRCSKL).
Some 200 households participated in events such as Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services, Health and Hygiene Promotions, a Mobile Health Clinic in collaboration with the district health clinic, and MRSC Mobile Vaccination counter for booster registration.
It was part of the Tropical Disaster Emergency Relief (TDW29W) programme that provides various activities to the community, including vulnerable members such as children and the elderly.
The residents will also be given cash and voucher assistance that will be banked into their accounts. A special team of Volunteers on Wheel went around the area to reach out to the elederly and distribute assistance.
A special flood drill booth was also set up where residents were briefed on how to set up an essential kit box in case of an emergency.
During the event Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) deputy chairman Dr Selva Jothi K. Selvadurai said that the tropical depression has caused devastating floods nationwide, and hit urban communities hard.
"We recognised the need for long-term interventions within our communities, and this programme is one of the ways we want to remain engaged with residents, to create awareness and build their preparedness capacities before another disaster occurs.
"Tiong Nam is one of several communities we are working with. Five MRCS state chapters have been mobilised to assist communities affected by floods.
"Recently, MRCS was able to help a total of 2,364 households in Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor and the Federal Territory through its cash assistance programme, via direct bank transfers totaling up to RM826,800," he said at the event.
He also said that even at a time where the pandemic has imposed several limitations, they were still able to find ways to deliver humanitarian services and reach out to communities in need of help and assistance.
MRCS secretary-general Hakim Hamzah hoped that this programme would enable the residents in their recovery effort and get back to normalcy in the shortest time possible.
"For this area, we are reaching some 200 households while nationwide we will be reaching 2,500 households.
"We have done some assessments on those affected by the floods and there are some criteria that have to be followed. Priority is for low income families (B40), the elderly, those who have disabled family members, and children.
"We will bank in RM350 cash assistance per family into their accounts directly to avoid any leakages,"
He added that had also organised some games as part of their psychosocial programme to relieve stress and help them recover.
Resident Tan Tin Haw, 67, who has lived in the area for 43 years handed over the assessment documentation of beneficiaries registration cash assistance program from Tiong Nam community to the MRCSKL.
Tan found the programmes held Saturday to be very helpful, saying residents now had some knowledge on how and what to prepare during a disaster.
"I had only the clothes that were on me and a bottle of water when the flood happened. This briefing on a disaster kit is very useful," she said at the event.
As of February 2022, more than 20,099 families have since received flood relief assistance from MRCS nationwide, along with other emergency responses such as deployment of boats for rescue operations, provisions of clean water supply to the affected area, Health and Hygiene promotions, and Psychological First Aid to provide emotional support assistance to reduce post floods depression and stress.