GUA MUSANG: The Air Unit of the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) has completed its operation of delivering a total of 582 food baskets weighing over 10.8 tonnes to Orang Asli communities in remote areas here.
Air Divisions Operations Management Branch head Mohd Ruzaidi Ramlee said the food supplies were delivered using an MI-17-IV helicopter belonging to the Air Unit from the Central Region Air Base in Subang, Selangor, and carried out by 22 personnel.
He added that the two-day operation, which began on Sunday (Jan 18), involved eight flights to five remote areas with land routes severely damaged by the North-East Monsoon.
"Five flights yesterday delivered over 6.6 tonnes of supplies to seven villages in Pos Simpor, Pos Bihai, Pos Belatim and Pos Gob. Three more flights today delivered over 4.1 tonnes of supplies to two villages in Pos Balar,” he said on Monday (Jan 19).
Meanwhile, Kelantan and Terengganu Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) director Mohd Faedzyal Mohamed said the food aid operation began on Jan 6, with a preliminary delivery of 383 food bags weighing 6,894kg before being suspended.
He added that a total of 3,824 Orang Asli in 43 remote villages around Gua Musang had benefitted from the operation, with over 17 tonnes of food baskets delivered by air throughout the monsoon season.
On Jan 9, an operation to airlift over 17 tonnes of basic food supplies to remote areas was suspended owing to bad weather after the land routes were severely damaged by the monsoon. – Bernama
