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United Sikhs collects donated items
for Burma cyclone victims
United Sikhs Director Harbinder Singh collecting supplies from
Buddhist Maha Vihara
WSN Network
 KUALA LUMPUR:
United Sikhs and its coalition partners consisting of Global Sikhs,
Malaysian Gurdwaras and Sikh organizations have began collection of
donated essential food items which were delivered to the Malaysian
Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, for onward transportation via
sea to Myanmar.
The United
Sikhs,which mobilized its team last week and sent out an urgent
appeal for essential food and medical supplies, has chartered a
vessel capable of carrying 300-500 tonnes of supplies and is
currently in discussions with the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar on
where the vessel can berth. The objective of the seabased mission is
to reach previously inaccessible areas in the aftermath of the
devastating cyclone Nargis.
“We have two
delivery points for all donated items, one being the Buddhist Maha
Vihara and the other being the Sikh Gurdwara in Kampung Pandan,”
said Harbinder Singh, the project coordinator of United Sikhs
Myanmar Disaster Relief in
Malaysia.
He added that
while the response has been positive to-date, many members of the
public who had made pledges had yet to deliver the promised goods,
and appealed them to do so urgently as timing was critical, with
the vessel scheduled to depart from Port Klang early next week.
The organization
had successfully carried out similar sea relief efforts to Aceh, in
partnership with Global Sikhs, after the tsunami struck in December
2004 and hopes to provide almost immediate disaster recovery to the
victims of cyclone Nargis. The vessel will depart from Port Klang
and is anticipated to arrive at its destination within 3-4 days;
targeting areas cut off by road links and providing immediate relief
to coastal areas.
The mission has
received the full support and backing of the Embassy of the Union of
Myanmar in Malaysia, with the Ambassador, His Excellency, U Tin Latt,
and first Secretary Myat Thida Aye assisting to ensure the smooth
transfer of supplies to the affected areas.
The Embassy of
the Union of Myanmar, in a statement issued on Monday, acknowledged
the efforts. H.E. U Tin Latt said, “The contribution will be
forwarded directly to the victims with collaboration between United
Sikhs, the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar and the Ministry of
Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement of the Government of the
Union of Myanmar.”
21
May,
2008
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