Sugud plead for help after ‘worst flood’

Published on: Sunday, September 19, 2021

By: Kan Yaw Chong

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A house that was swept down by the mudflow.

TALK global warming to the commoner is like talking to stones. Nothing sinks in. Now that extreme weather has swept home with unimaginable destruction, suffering and death almost every other week, time to say yes, it’s real, not a hoax.

Let’s look at how the rated “worst ever” extreme floods ever swept Sugud apart after a relentless deluge on September 15, all Sabah need to take global warming seriously.

This time nobody is a better testimony of the existential threat than a vivid account of the comprehensive destruction from a Sugud insider, Ms Decy Ebol.

So we will let first hand witness Decy Ebol who poured out Sugud folks’ heart-rendering plight as she pleaded desperately for help in an WhatsApp forward that landed in this writer’s lap.

The WhatsApp message was originally written in Malay.

So, in this Special Report, we decided to publish Decy’s plea for help verbatim, word for word, line for line, and illustrate it with pictures sent to me, on request, because she is a direct witness of the extreme havoc.

Decy is the younger sister of the Pastoral Chairman of Sugud Catholic Community Committee.

But most importantly, lend a helping hand to their plight as they have pleaded.

Decy’s impassioned WhatsApp plea

Shalom. Dear brothers, sisters and friends. This is my first post that is personal to me. I started this post on my own initiative.

As we know, Penampang District experienced major floods and especially my own village, on 15.9.21. Kg Sugud is among those severely affected by the floods in Penampang District.

I cannot describe the situation in the Kampung. Sugud is now a mud village.

Ninety per cent of the population involved in this misfortune include those in Timpangoh and Mahamsung.

The tears are dry, the heart is strengthened not to give up, not to give up.

Maybe someone is thinking, it always floods there, what is the difference now?

But the flood this time was not a normal flood.

Heavy losses to a mud flood!

It was a mud flood.

During my stay in Sugud, this was the worst misfortune experienced by the residents here.

Some families lost their shelter, their houses were washed away, some covered with mud.

Our regular videographer, Henry Kdk Bisius, lost not only his car but his house was also swept away by strong currents!

The flood path left piles of mud two inches to three inches thick – outside and inside the house.

All property including cars and motorcycles sank or were swept away by floods, or buried with soil and mud.

Landslides caused many areas to be impassable.

Many families are cut off from food and drink. Some have not eaten since the incident

‘Food and assistance far from enough’

There is food and assistance received from several parties but it is far from enough for all the residents involved.

Some find it difficult to get in to send aid because the roads are cut off, blocked by landslides, fallen trees, backwood etc.

Coupled with the absence of water and electricity supply (at the time this post was written) since the Sept 15 floods, complicating the cleaning work.

Plea to donate

So I beg and call on our brothers and sisters to donate. Contributions are accepted from society (individuals, associations/groups), regardless of race, religion or political background. Let us unite for the welfare of all, especially the people in Kg Sugud.

We accept any form of donation that will be channelled to the affected residents.

Donations can be sent directly to the Church of Assumption of our Lady, Sugud.

If you want to supply food and drink (urgent need is drinking water, basic food like rice, clothes, including blankets, pillows, baby milk, pampers etc.

If you don’t have the money, donate your energy as there are many areas that need to be cleaned.

Bring equipment such as machetes, spades, chainsaws, brooms, water pumps which are very important due to the absence of water or low water pressure so water will been taken from the nearest river, which can help determine the areas of clean up actions be it houses, streets etc.

Financial help is welcomed. RTDKK Sugud Catholic Community Committee’s Alliance Bank Account No is 1012-3002-0121-901 and WhatsApp your bank slip to Jilinis’ handphone number at 011-1031-5401

For further information, please contact Decy at 017-8198139.