Destructions in Kuala Krai remind voluteer of a situation in Aceh in 2004

KUALA LUMPUR: "The situation in Kuala Krai is really bad. No words can describe it. Worse than what I saw in Kota Baru. It reminds me of Aceh when I was there for a relief mission 10 years ago".
This was the message sent by Razi Pahlavi Abdul Aziz, 40, to his friends after witnessing the massive destruction caused by the recent floods in some areas in Kelantan.
"The town was deserted, broken cars in the middle of the street, shophouses broken and torn down, houses destroyed, walls collapsed, roads are broken.
I literally saw an intact house relocated by the flood 100 feet away.
"No words can describe...saddened, frustrated and demoralised becauce if that is what the flood can do to a town, imagine the villages... imagine the people," he texted to this writer.
As of this morning, floods in Kelantan has forced 142,586 people from 35,894 families to leave their homes. They are now taking shelter at 317 flood relief centres.

Working closely with Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) Kubang Kerian and Mercy Malaysia, Razi is currently coordinating a team of private initiative relief mission, spearheaded by three alumni-based groups namely Akrab Jaya, GOS and R8.
The team, engaged in four 4x4 vehicles waded their way into Kelantan on Dec 27 in the course of 18 hours journey to Kota Baru, along with three support boats and relief items.
Their main task is to provide logistic support to HUSM by ferrying medical personnel and supply to remote areas where healthcare and medical attention are needed.
According to Razi, the team members, who had been working for 48 hours non-stop had also been distributing food and drinking water directly to victims surrounding Kota Baharu and nearby areas, together with HUSM Wataniah.
He said logistical constraints was still a major problem, affecting the deployment of relief teams from various organization in reaching out to flood victims.
"We received a few request from other non governmental organisations (NGOs) to use our boats for their relief work but sadly we had to decline them as the boats are now loaned to Mercy Malaysia and Wataniah HUSM," he said.
According to Razi, the medical team they assisted had set up static and mobile clinic whereby a makeshift facility like a tent is set up in a remote area for the people to get better access to healthcare and medical attention.
However, despite the chaos of the post-deluge, he was impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the high-spirited enforcement team, including the Malaysian Civil Defence Department (JPAM), Mercy Malaysia and other volunteers who are helping to meet the needs of the flood victims in the state.
"Smiles on their faces, but (it is) clearly obvious that they are exhausted and worn out, they are our heroes. They were there before the 1st wave disaster had happened, they were cut off from supply of food, electricity, tapped water and drinking water, but yet they worked day and night during the first wave... risking everything just to rescue life of the people at the expense of theirs.
Amazing people, amazing spirit," he said in the text message.
Razi said as of today, the team was requested to provide extra support in logistics focussing to providing the health care and ration distribution to the beneficiaries in 25 remote villages from Manik Urai up to Dabong. – Bernama