JAMBO'S AID MISSION TO TUTONG
Bruneian globetrotter Norhayati Abu Bakar and husband Harun Kurt Eichbauer's Toyota Land Cruiser 'Jambo' on the way to Kg Benutan in Tutong to deliver relief goods to flood victims. Picture: BT/Ubaidillah Masli
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Along with husband Harun Kurt Eichbauer, the adventurous duo took their trusty four-wheel drive steed "Jambo" to deliver food and drinking water to the isolated residents of Kg Benutan, where the roads remain inundated by as deep as 0.5 metres.
The rations, ranging from bottled mineral water to dried foods such as instant noodles, were donated in kind by three local companies to help ease the lives of the flood victims.
Norhayati and Harun began their humanitarian mission yesterday morning by collecting and loading up the donated goods at the distribution outlets of the companies in the Lambak Industrial site and in Kg Beribi. The large, blue off-road vehicle generated interest among the employees of the companies, who asked the duo to share their tales behind the pictures of countries pasted on the car.
The couple and Jambo are renowned for their two-year trip across more than 30 countries, which they called "From Brunei to around the World 2009-2010, 25 Years Brunei Independence Expedition", in their efforts to raise global awareness on the tiny Sultanate.
Twenty-five cartons of bottled water, 25 boxes of dried noodles and more than 100 boxes of assorted snackfoods were loaded inside and on top of the Toyota Land Cruiser before the mission headed to the Incident Command Post (ICP) in Lamunin to check on the present flood situation in Tutong District.
Most of the roads that had previously been inundated since the record rainfall in mid-January have since dried up, except for Jalan Benutan and Jalan Bengkuru.
According to Ajak Hj Jais, a National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) personnel stationed at ICP Lamunin, the floodwaters at Jalan Benutan were recorded at 0.50 metres.
Ajak acknowledged the possibility of the floodwaters rising further if the water from the interiors continued to flow through the village.
Assessing that the village was one of the worst affected, it was decided that the aid would be donated to the villagers there, with Ajak and an NDMC team volunteering to accompany and show the do-gooders the way.
The convoy drove through Jalan Sulap Samat for about 17 kilometres through gravel backroads before reaching the flooded stretches of Jalan Benutan.
Jambo while carrying the full load of supplies to the remote village, where even cell phone network coverage could not reach.
The goods were then handed over, with the help of the villagers themselves to unload the boxed donations off the car, to the penghulu of Mukim Rambai, following the mass Friday prayers at Kg Benutan mosque.
Khairul Nurul Arsyad Hj Abd Malik, the penghulu explained that food and drink supply in the village had yet to have been affected since the villagers had also received donations from government agencies. However, he welcomed the private sector contribution as it would also help out the villagers.
"Since the floods carry on for weeks at a time, it might be difficult for (the villagers) to buy supplies (from town), but donations such as this help to lighten their burden," Khairul Nurul Arsyad said.
"Jambo has not only gone around the world, but has also come here to help us," he added.
In thanking Norhayati and Harun, the penghulu expressed the village's gratitude with prayers to Allah (SWT).
The humanitarian mission, which was co-organised by The Brunei Times, was hoped to inspire others to help out those affected by the floods through donations or other forms of assistance.
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