BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Saturday 23 Nov 2013 – The fourth batch of humanitarian aid from Brunei Darussalam was airlifted to typhoon-battered Tacloban via Royal Brunei Air Force CN235 aircraft, yesterday at about 9.30am as donations continue to pour in from members of the public.
Bidding the team farewell at the Airforce Base in Kg Rimba was the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.
Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Majid bin Mangarshah and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos.
The relief aid comprised necessities such as food items and bottled waters, which will be handed over to Tacloban by an official from the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), Sallehuddin bin Haji Ibrahim, Senior Superintendent of the Fire and Rescue Department.
Also part of the team are three media personnel from state television Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB), who will provide coverage of the Brunei team’s relief operations in Tacloban.
Meanwhile, the Royal Brunei Navy also delivered the second shipment of humanitarian goods by sea via the KDB Darulaman patrol vessel, yesterday. The shipment comprised 35 tonnes of aid in dried and canned foods as well as drinking water. This kind of supplies are most needed at the moment, said Pg Saharudin bin Pg Hj Metali, Assistant Superintendent of the Fire & Rescue Department.
The first shipment arrived in Tacloban on Thursday, with the second batch delivered yesterday. The journey takes about eight days and the team is expected to stay in the Philippines for two days to unload the relief goods from the vessel.
He said the relief goods would be received by a representative of the Asean Humanitarian Assistant Centre (AHA Centre).
The team comprises four personnel from the Fire & Rescue Department, two from the National Disaster Management Centre and two representatives from the Brunei-Muara District Office as well as crew from the Royal Brunei Navy.
Senior Supt Awg Mahali bin Haji Bolhaji, who had just returned home after sending the first shipment, said affected victims still needed much help in the form of relief goods.
The public can continue to make donations until November 28 at various drop-off points. In the Brunei-Muara District, the drop-off points are at the Fire and Rescue Department headquarters in Berakas, Hassanal Bolkiah Sports Complex and Pusat Belia; while in the Belait District, donations can be dropped off at the Mumong Sports Complex. In the Tutong District, the drop-off point is at the Tutong Youth Centre; and in Temburong District, it can be sent to the Temburong Youth Centre.
