A disaster can happen at any time and when it does, it can affect the whole community. It can happen without warning and those affected often have very little time to be prepared.
When such a disaster occurs, be it flood, fire, landslides, etc., emergency responders such as Bomba, Malaysian Armed Forces and other organised bodies are often the first on the scene to handle the crisis to carry out rescues and minimise further danger and damage to persons and property. This aspect of crisis relief is one where volunteer organisations may not be well equipped to do, both in terms of equipment and skill, and can cause further problems as the rescuers may also get into trouble themselves.
It is upon this realisation that “Early Response Teams (ERTs)” come into the picture and this is why “Samaritan Crisis Relief” is setting up teams and equipping people who will be able to go into disaster areas to assist accordingly.
What is the role of a Samaritan Crisis Relief Team?
We are a faith-based ministry and our main aim is to help people affected by disasters to get back on their feet as soon as possible. These are our goals:
• To focus primarily on long-term recovery for the survivors so that they can rebuild their lives.
• To do what we can to provide the survivors a safe, secure and temporary place while rebuilding work is being done.
• To provide immediate aid in the form of food and materials and manpower (if necessary) in the rebuilding of their homes after the disaster.
• To assist the survivors to apply and obtain aid that is being given out, whether from the government or other agencies.
• To provide spiritual support while bearing in mind the multi-cultural and multi-religious setting we are in.
Who Can Volunteer?
Anyone who is healthy and reasonably fit can volunteer. Fill out the form provided and Samaritan Ministries will find a slot for you. The idea is to set up teams under different disciplines so that when one team is sent out, the other teams can continue to operate according to the roles and disciplines they have been tasked and trained to do. Once you are assigned to a team, you will always be in that team unless there is a reason for a change. There may be some training sessions that you are required to attend in order to give you some ideas of what you are required for as well as to train you in safety practices.
Other Information
• Each team that is sent out will usually work under a larger group and will be self-sustaining (able to carry out their responsibilities and support their own needs like food and water). Members are expected to have their own safety gear. Whilst attempts will be made for food and refreshments, these are not guaranteed.
• No team will be sent out without being requested and without clear instructions. In an emergency, team members should get themselves prepared to be called at a moment’s notice but should not act until clear instructions are given.
• All instructions will be channelled through Shekina Centre in Taman Sri Sentosa, KL, whose contacts are given below.
Relief Supplies
Samaritan Ministries is building up various types of relief supplies that can be stored and distributed at a moment’s notice. These will be mainly Hygiene Kits, School Kits and Cleaning Kits. A separate appeal for donations for these kits will be done but if you are able to assist, either in donation and/or in the preparation, packing and handling of logistics, please indicate in the Volunteer Form.
Food supplies cannot be stored for long periods of time, so these will be sourced only as and when required.
Who to Contact?
Write or email to:
Samaritan Crisis Relief
Shekina Centre,
L3-17 Times 89 Business Plaza,
Jalan 8A/133, Taman Sri Sentosa,
58000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 77709900
Email: sc@trinitypj.com or shekinakl@gmail.com
Samaritan Crisis Relief is operated by:
Social Concerns Ministry
Trinity Methodist Church
6 Jalan 5/37,
46000 Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03 79565986