BAHANAG, 31st October, 2022 (WAM) - In the presence of King of Malaysia Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has inaugurated the first phase of the housing project dedicated to people affected by floods that swept the state of Pahang last year.

The fully serviced 123 housing units were built under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the supervision of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and the ERC Chairman.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Dato' Sri Rushdi Ismail, Chief Minister of Pahang State; Khalid Al Ghaith, UAE Ambassador to Malaysia; Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ERC, and several Malaysian officials.

"I am pleased to be here today to witness this significant moment of launching a housing project in the presence of His Majesty the King to alleviate the suffering of flood-affected families in Pahang state," said Al Ghaith in his opening address at the ceremony.

Al Ghaith affirmed that the housing project implemented by the ERC is part of the global humanitarian approach of the UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He stressed that this project and other humanitarian aid provided by the UAE and the ERC embody the depth of relations between the governments and people of the UAE and Malaysia.

In a statement on this occasion, Dr. Al Mazrouei stated that this vital project is the result of the tireless efforts and initiatives undertaken by the UAE under the directives of its leadership.

He said that UAE leaders followed last year's floods in Malaysia with great interest, especially the humanitarian situation in the most affected states, and immediately directed the provision of support to those who were affected to improve their living conditions.

"The ERC was one of the first humanitarian organisations that responded to the call of humanitarian duty. It reached out to the affected areas and began to provide a helping hand and support through a relief programme that met the humanitarian needs of those affected," he added.

He said that later they began the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damaged facilities and worked to restore normalcy. These units, he noted, provided adequate shelter and support for the families who lost their homes in the floods.