Swift action: Volunteers from Malaysia International Search and Rescue (Misar) bringing food relief and hope to victims.
Volunteers race to save hundreds stranded in Hat Yai
PETALING JAYA: The calls for help came on Saturday. Some countrymen were stranded in the floods in Thailand – and the selfless volunteers from United Sikhs Malaysia swung into action.
Within hours, what began as an SOS call from close contacts turned into a full-fledged rescue mission.
The team has now set up two bases for relief work on both sides of the border – one in Thailand and another in Kuala Lumpur.
Armed with two boats and two canoes, two four-wheel drive vehicles left for Hat Yai on Saturday night and arrived at the Thai city on Sunday.
The volunteers then waded into the devastating floods to rescue hundreds of people stranded in Hat Yai, Thailand.
They also provided food for many Malaysians who were left wet and hungry, with no aid forthcoming. Even hotels in Hat Yai had run out of food, with some only being able to provide one meal.
“Once we went there to evacuate those who called us, we realised that there were many more in need. On Sunday alone, we evacuated approximately 700 to 1,000 people,” said United Sikhs vice president Mandeep Singh.
“Of that number, 90% were Malaysians and 10% were Thais,” he added.
He said the evacuated victims were sent to either Danok at the Thai border or back to Malaysia via express buses.
United Sikhs and its associates, consisting of some 50 volunteers, also hired trucks to transport the victims through the floods. Many victims had to leave their cars behind, as the floods made driving to Danok almost impossible.
Mandeep said that, at one point, some victims did not want to leave their hotels as they felt the water would subside. However, they were stranded again the next day when the water levels rose even higher.
The mission was funded by United Sikhs out of their own pocket.
Mandeep returned to Malaysia on Monday to set up the Kuala Lumpur base and organise relief efforts here.
According to official figures, some 4,000 Malaysians were stranded in the floods in Hat Yai, which have incapacitated the popular Thai holiday destination, leaving many stranded without food and electricity.
Malaysia International Search and Rescue (Misar), another voluntary organisation, has also deployed off-road ambulances to evacuate bedridden victims, rescuing one at Sri Muda, Shah Alam.
“We provide free service to move them to safety,” said Misar founder and chairman Balasupramaniam Krishnan.
“We are focusing on evacuation and aid in Selangor for now. On Friday, we will also move to Kelantan,” he said.
His team is also distributing food items to victims.
