Humanitarian organizations have urged Malaysians to lend a helping hand to victims of typhoon Haiyan which hit the eastern Philippines recently.

The Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) will send a Rapid Deployment Squad (RDS) to the location and it will be led by its National Vice Chairman and Chairman, National Disaster Management & Emergency Ambulance Committee, Datuk Wira Dr Bahari Abu Mansor for the rescue mission.

"The MRC would like to call on all Malaysians, individuals and corporations alike, to come forward and lend a helping hand by sending in your generous contribution to help alleviate the suffering of the victims," said Dr Bahari.

MRC spokesperson, Liza Ramli reminds everyone not to send clothing or other items that cannot be used as their donation.

"Hopefully we will be nicer and more concerned to those who are in a miserable situation there. Torn clothes could not help them. It would be much better to donate money or blankets as the weather is completely unpredictable there.

"We are more concerned with donation in terms of monetary, food and drinks. For your information, the victims in the Philippines don’t even have drinking water. So this is our priority at the moment, which to provide them the basic necessities," said Liza.

Meanwhile, the Relief and Programs Division Manager of the Islamic Relief Malaysia, Kamarul Sakrani Halim said the best way to provide assistance is to contribute money.

"Malaysians are concerned when such incidents occur but by sending clothes, mineral water or canned food, this gives us a burden as due to the emergency situation in the Philippines, it is impossible for us to carry heavy stuff.

"It would be better if everyone donate in terms of monetary and the humanitarian organizations will buy the essential items there.

"For example, to get to Leyte Island, we have to go through from Kuala Lumpur to Manila, then to Cebu and finally, Leyte Island. The journey is costly and take a lot of time,"said Kamarul .

He also explained that it is not easy for people to become a volunteer as to participate and help the Filipinos due to bad weather condition.

According to him it is because all agencies and humanitarian organizations around the world would want to send their representatives to lend a hand there. He added that here is an allocation on how many volunteers each country can send.

“Our representative from Indonesia is currently at the location and we are waiting for the ‘green light’ as to whether the rest of the volunteers from Malaysia and England can participate in this rescue mission. It is extremely dangerous as the second wave may occur and precautions to be taken,"said Kamarul .