Mercy Malaysia Upgrades Temporary Shelters Of Palu Disaster Victims

By Oleh Syed Azwan Syed Ali PALU (Sulawesi), March 27 (Bernama) -- Six months after the calamitous earthquake, tsunami and soil liquefaction in Palu in Central Sulawesi, Mercy Malaysia will be focusing on the upgrading of transit shelters in Lere for victims of the disaster. Since October last year, 880 individuals have been staying in 205 shelters. Mercy Malaysia president Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus said efforts to upgrade the shelters refer to the changing of the shelter walls and roofs from tarpaulin to plywood and zinc, which last longer. “After six months, rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts must be carefully planned,” he told Bernama after a seminar and workshop on new and improved rebuilding efforts for Central Sulawesi at the inspector's office, here, Tuesday. Dr Faizal also said risk reduction is important for Sulawesi as it is situated in a disaster-prone geographical location. Also present at the seminar was Exco of Mercy Malaysia cum head of Mercy Malaysia mission in Central Sulawesi, Norazam Ab Samah, who said that the earthquake victims at the temporary shelters in Lere will remain there for at least another year or until the authorities provide them with permanent shelters. -- BERNAMA