NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DISASTER RELIEF Strengthening national integration towards timely and effective results 23 June 2003, Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Star Tuesday 10 June, 2003 NGOs to handle disaster relief KUALA LUMPUR : Twenty-six non-governmental organisation (NGOs) will form a coalition to jointly handle disaster relief and activate  a chain of command during emergencies. National Unity and Social Development Minster Datuk Dr. Siti Zaharah Sulaiman said the National Coalition of NGOs on Disaster Relief would be the co-ordinator in any disaster relief efforts in the country. "This (co-odinator) is what we are lacking now," she said when briefing the press on the National Conference on Disaster Relief to be ed from June 21 to 23. She said the 26 NGOs would elect a committee during the three-day conference. "We have requested the central agency to allocate RM 500,000 as funding to start the coalition. We are also looking for sponsors," she said yesterday. Siti Zaharah said apart from providing relief for disasters, the coalition would also develop and maintain a data base, assist in capacity building, and encourage transparency and good governance. "We also hope it will play a part in encouraging similar coalitions to be established at regional levels,' she said. Asked about the NGOs that would join the coalition, Siti Zaharah said they were leading NGOs including Bakti, Mercy Malaysia, Malaysian Aids Council; and the Kiwanis Club of Malaysia. On the conference, she said, it would be opened by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on June 21. "Apart from local NGOs, we are also inviting two NGOs from each Asean country to participate in the conference and exhibition," she added. - Bernama