Latest news with #AseanDisasterManagement
The Star
29-04-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Hot weather tests SMART team's resilience in Myanmar mission
KUALA LUMPUR: Hot weather exceeding 40°C was among the challenges faced by the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) during the Malaysian Humanitarian Aid Mission for earthquake victims in Myanmar last March. SMART's sole female member PB Avlyanie Moidi, 28, who serves as a logistics assistant, shared that the intense heat took a significant toll on the physical endurance of the team including personnel from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma). "One of the most difficult challenges was the extreme heat, with temperature exceeding 40°C. The condition was intense, many team members struggled with fatigue and lower stamina," said in a Bernama Radio's programme "Window of Thought: Nadma and Malaysia's Efforts in Asean Disaster Management" on Tuesday. Apart from the weather, she said the team also had to face the risk of building collapse during aftershocks and language barriers as well as limited access to the disaster-hit areas. Also present on the programme was Nadma director-general Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus, Bernama reported. Avlyanie was among 50 people involved in the humanitarian aid as well as search and rescue operation for earthquake victims in Myanmar. According to her, the mission tested not only physical endurance but also emotional strength. One of the most heart-wrenching moments, she recalled, was the rescue of a father and daughter trapped beneath the ruins of a temple, while the mother waited anxiously outside, clinging to hope. "When we finally brought (the bodies of) the father and child out, the mother's expression changed instantly, from hope to grief. It was devastating. "In that moment, I was truly overcome with emotion. All I could do was embrace her and offer my condolences," she recounted with a tearful voice. Avlyanie, a mother of one, previously served in the K-9 Unit of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, an experience that, she said, helped build her emotional resilience and mental fortitude. For her, participating in high-risk missions is not a reason for women to doubt their capabilities, but instead, an opportunity to prove their true potential.
The Star
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Public must learn the basics of disaster management, says Nadma
KUALA LUMPUR: The public must be equipped with basic knowledge in disaster management to prepare them for any situation, including floods, says the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus. However, he emphasised that public involvement in disaster management is the international standard and should not be seen as a sign of government agencies' weakness. "…internationally, everyone, including members of the public, has a role to play in ensuring their safety, which in turn helps reduce the risk of losses or property damage," he said after appearing as a guest on Bernama Radio's Jendela Fikir programme titled Nadma dan Usaha Malaysia dalam Pengurusan Bencana Asean (Nadma and Malaysia's Efforts in Asean Disaster Management) on Tuesday (April 29). According to Khairul Shahril, Nadma encourages public and NGO involvement in disaster management by fostering a deeper understanding of multi-stakeholder collaboration, which is key to effective disaster response and preparedness. On Malaysia's efforts in international disaster management, he said overseas humanitarian missions, particularly in Asean countries, have significantly enhanced the skills of the country's rescue and relief personnel. "Each country faces unique challenges and adopts different approaches. Indonesia, for example, experiences more frequent and complex disasters compared to Malaysia. Through humanitarian missions, we can learn strategies and best practices in disaster management. "Overseas experience helps us to enhance our knowledge and elevate the level of disaster management within the country," he said. On the involvement of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) in Myanmar under the Malaysian Humanitarian Aid Mission, Khairul Shahril noted that the team received recognition from the United Nations following a thorough audit process. He said, Nadma aims to leverage Malaysia's expertise to help raise the standards of rescue personnel across Asean, through joint training sessions, among other things, adding that the initiative was among the key objectives of the recent official visit by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Authority and the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance. A total of 50 Nadma personnel were involved in the humanitarian aid mission and search and rescue operations for earthquake victims in Myanmar last month. – Bernama
