MERCY Malaysia has dispatched its Rapid Assessment and Emergency Medical Teams to states hit by floods, including hardest-hit Johor.

In a statement, president Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus said Mercy Malaysia has provided much needed emergency humanitarian relief and also activated its Malaysia Flood Response Command Centre.

“Mercy Malaysia, through its local Johor chapter has dispatched much needed relief aid as well as its medical teams to assist the victims in the latest flash floods due to the northeast monsoon.

“Mercy Malaysia’s humanitarian aid focuses on a four-pronged response plan encompassing: healthcare support, food and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as logistics and operations,” he said.

Mobile clinics have also been set up in Kluang, among the hardest flood-hit areas in the state.

Earlier today Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi described the current flood situation in the state as quite critical, with more than 20,000 residents affected.

He said the federal and state governments have joined hands to ensure people receive assistance as soon as possible. 

“I hope the victims are patient and we pray that this flood will recede quickly, and the weather today will improve in Segamat,” he told reporters after visiting flood victims at the temporary evacuation centre in SK Temenggong Abdul Rahman today. 

Meanwhile, Faizal said Mercy Malaysia’s rapid assessment teams have also been deployed in the impacted states to collect data on affected people.

The team would also be used to analyse on-ground situation on the communities’ needs for a holistic response planning.

“Mercy Malaysia’s humanitarian response for the floods will be scaled up to ensure structured coordination for emergency to recovery support,” he added.

Segamat is the worst-affected district with 2,050 families transferred to 55 shelters, followed by Kluang (1,559 families in 39 shelters), Kota Tinggi (769 families in 18 shelters), Johor Baru (607 families in 12 shelters) and Pontian (58 families in five shelters). 

A Bernama survey in Segamat found the water level had decreased but some roads were still impassable to light vehicles. 

Flood-waters washed away several vehicles parked on the roadside near the entrance to Segamat town. – March 2, 2023.