Malaysian volunteer rescue teams have crossed the border into Hat Yai, Thailand for rescue work. While there are now sufficient relief supplies, the greatest shortage is of volunteer participation, especially volunteers who can operate boats to distribute supplies to stranded residents.
Hat Yai is experiencing its most severe flood in history. Even though Malaysian rescue teams are working together with Thai rescue teams to rescue stranded Malaysians from the disaster area, there are still many pleas for help seen on social media.
These pleas for help indicate that many people are trapped in certain hotels in Hat Yai and have been starving for days.
Rescue volunteer Alez told Guang Hua Daily on Wednesday (26th) that relief supplies such as water and bread are now very sufficient. There is even a truckload of bread waiting for rescue personnel to distribute to those stranded.
He said that despite the abundant supplies, there is a need for enough rescue personnel to distribute them. The biggest shortfall on the rescue frontline now is rescue volunteers.
"Currently, the rescue personnel are busy rescuing those trapped, and simply do not have time to deliver supplies to the hungry stranded," he said.
He continued, therefore what is needed on the frontline now are rescue volunteers, especially those who can operate rescue boats, to prioritize delivering supplies and food to the starving stranded residents.
He added that in addition to volunteers, there is also a shortage of boats on the rescue frontline.
In addition, when contacted by reporters, Sungai Petani Volunteer Fire Brigade Chairman Leong Ming Da also confirmed that supplies are currently sufficient, and that what they now need are frontline volunteers for the relief effort.