MERCY MALAYSIA DEPLOYS TWO-MEMBER TEAM TO MANILA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Mercy Malaysia will deploy a two-member
team to Manila, Philippines in response to the recent tropical storm Ketsana
that pummelled the country's northern island of Luzon including metro Manila.

Mercy Malaysia in a statement Tuesday said a total of RM100,000 (US$28,630)
had also been allocated from its emergency fund to respond to this recent
disaster.

"The team is lead by Mercy Malaysia senior programme officer Hew Chong Yew,
accompanied by volunteer, Loke Hai Yuan.

"They will be distributing hygiene kits to the affected communities in areas
such as Marikina City, Rizal and Pasig in addition to conducting assessments to
learn more of the situation and on humanitarian assistance needed," the
statement said.

It said that the distribution of hygiene kits was part of Mercy Malaysia's
primary work of providing WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities to
victims of natural disasters.

The team will leave for Manila Wednesday morning via Malaysia Airlines (MAS)
and the tickets were provided complimentary by MAS as part of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) signed between the two organisations in May, it said.

Concerned Malaysians can donate to Mercy's Humanitarian Fund through CIMB
Bank account number 1424-000-6561053 or Maybank account number, 5621-7950-4126.
For more information, please contact 03-22733999 or visit www.mercy.org.my.

-- BERNAMA