Malaysia announced its readiness to send a humanitarian aid mission to help victims of the tsunami that pounded several Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake had triggered 3-metre waves on Monday.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said apart from Malaysia, foreign missions like the international humanitarian aid mission, High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR) and United Nations World Food Programme were also ready and waiting for the green light.
"We are prepared and ready to assist if we receive the green light from Jakarta. We will not wait for them but instead will offer our services and if accepted we will move in," he told reporters after a courtesy call by United States Ambassador to Malaysia Paul W. Jones at his office here Wednesday.
Meanwhile, MERCY Malaysia will deploy a two-member Rapid Assessment Team to Padang, Indonesia in response to the 7.7-magnitude earthquake and 15-foot high tsunami which struck Mentawai Islands recently.
In a statement here Wednesday, MERCY Malaysia said the team would be led by MERCY Malaysia Executive Council Member, Norazam Ab Samah, accompanied by MERCY Malaysia Medical Coordinator, Che Tah Hanafi.
"They will be conducting an on-the-ground assessment to determine the humanitarian needs within the affected region," it said.
The team will leave for Padang, Indonesia Thursday before making their way to the Mentawai Islands.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said apart from Malaysia, foreign missions like the international humanitarian aid mission, High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR) and United Nations World Food Programme were also ready and waiting for the green light.
"We are prepared and ready to assist if we receive the green light from Jakarta. We will not wait for them but instead will offer our services and if accepted we will move in," he told reporters after a courtesy call by United States Ambassador to Malaysia Paul W. Jones at his office here Wednesday.
Meanwhile, MERCY Malaysia will deploy a two-member Rapid Assessment Team to Padang, Indonesia in response to the 7.7-magnitude earthquake and 15-foot high tsunami which struck Mentawai Islands recently.
In a statement here Wednesday, MERCY Malaysia said the team would be led by MERCY Malaysia Executive Council Member, Norazam Ab Samah, accompanied by MERCY Malaysia Medical Coordinator, Che Tah Hanafi.
"They will be conducting an on-the-ground assessment to determine the humanitarian needs within the affected region," it said.
The team will leave for Padang, Indonesia Thursday before making their way to the Mentawai Islands.
