Volunteers come to aid of landslide-hit villagers in interior

A total of 76 families in Salinatan received emergency food supplies after multiple landslides affected Pensiangan in Sabah, resulting in limited access to the area. The relief supplies were provided through a joint humanitarian mission known as FOL-Bomba Ops Salinatan, which involved Forces of Love (FOL) and the Fire and Rescue Department.

FOL received a distress message from Atar Andipoh, the head of the four affected villages. The message was relayed by SK Salinatan teacher Callister K. George. In response, FOL took swift action, for which the fire department’s deputy director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad expressed gratitude.

A total of 2.3 tonnes of dry essential food items and vegetables were transported from Keningau to Pensiangan using 4×4 vehicles. From there, they were carried on a cargo boat from Kuala Salong Riverway to be distributed in the affected area. The supplies were then unloaded onto smaller feeder boats and delivered to the families.

The operation involved five FOL volunteers, led by Yeo Li Fung, and two officers from the fire department. The volunteers and officers worked together to ensure the successful delivery of the emergency food supplies. An image of the supplies being delivered to SK Salinatan can be seen below:

Emergency food supplies delivered to SK Salinatan.

The food supplies were distributed to 12 families in Kampung Salinatan, 14 families in Kampung Tulir, 20 families in Kampung Bolar Baru, 16 families in Kampung Kasumunsing, and 14 staff members, including teachers, of SK Salinatan.

FOL explained that on September 5th, the only land access from Pensiangan to Salinatan was completely cut off due to 35 landslides in the area. The situation worsened as the main bridge used by vehicles was swept away. Consequently, FOL volunteers had to walk for hours and hand-carry the food supplies.

A week after the landslides occurred, the villagers’ basic food supplies became critically low, and grocery stores in Kampung Salinatan had also depleted their stock. Atar expressed his gratitude to donors, FOL volunteers, and the fire department for their assistance in this difficult situation.