150 stateless families in Omadal to receive food aid during MCO

CORONAVIRUS | Cut off from the mainland of Sabah since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented on March 18, 150 stateless families on Omadal Island are set to receive much-needed food aid beginning today.

The crucial ration comes at a critical time for the families, comprised of the Sama-Bajau community, as their ability to earn a living by selling their fishing catch at local mainland markets in Semporna was disrupted by the restriction imposed by MCO to curb the further spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The food aid to the marginalised families would be channelled by non-governmental organisation Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal (Persatuan Pendidikan Bajau Laut), who is in contact with suppliers and arranging the distribution.

In a posting on its official Facebook page late last night, the NGO said that it has pooled enough funds from public donations to purchase aid for the families.

“We have gotten in touch with supplier(s) for bulk purchase of the listed items to secure a stockpile and we will be able to confirm the authorised permission to transport the rations from town (Semporna) to Omadal Island. If all goes well, our first batch of ration will be distributed starting tomorrow (today),” Iskul posted.

When contacted by Malaysiakini today, the NGO confirmed that they are preoccupied in getting the rations and arranging the logistics to transport the aid from the mainland to Omadal Island.

The group shared that they are running high and low to secure drinking water bottles in bulk but it has been challenging due to limited supply on the mainland.

“The good news is that the Semporna District Officer has been understanding and issued us an official permission letter to allow us to transport the rations to the Omadal stateless community during the MCO period.

"We have also received help from a friend to provide a boat for transporting the rations."

Iskul shared that they are fortunate to have a resident teacher and field coordinator on the ground to secure rations and arranging distributions accordingly, while some team members coordinate online.

The group expressed awareness that amid the crisis, other charitable voluntary groups and NGOs are also working hard to reach out to the island communities in-need, both citizens and non-citizens.

"We want to focus on getting the rations to the stateless community as soon as possible and we are starting with the first batch for 25 families today," they added.

The NGO shared that the rations will be transported in batches to the community as they want to avoid crowding, and they are also conducting due diligence to ensure that families who need it most would be prioritised.

On March 26, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Jaujan Sambakong reportedly said that food rations would be sent to islanders in the waters off Sabah whose movements are affected by the MCO, regardless whether they are Malaysian citizens or stateless.

On May 19 last year, it was reported that the nomadic Bajau Laut, some from the Omadal Island, was already facing restriction in access to livelihood and education. - Mkini