A very good afternoon
Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Chairman of Humanity Matters
Mr Haji Mohamed Rafeeq, Chairman of Bencoolen Mosque
Deputy Mufti Ustaz Dr Mohammad Hannan Bin Hassan
Esteemed faith, civic, corporate, youth leaders and members
Representatives from our migrant communities
Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
1. Thank you for inviting me to join all of you here today. I'm very privileged to be here to join you for this event. I also would like to share that I feel a particular connection because my brother-in-law is from Bangladesh. When I see what we are doing here today, I think our fundraising efforts are truly commendable and truly reflects one nation, one humanity. Thank you all so much for being a part of this initiative. A warm round of applause to all of you.
2. I had previously attended Humanity Matters’ completion event of the SG CORE (Cohesion & Resilience) programme where Humanity Matters had engaged 400 civilians from the uniform groups on security-related issues but taking the social-dimension lens. We talked about issues such as radicalism, extremism and exclusivism. We want to make sure that in Singapore, we have an inclusive society where everyone feels that they belong, and everyone feels a collective ownership towards peace and security on this little island called Singapore.
Ground-up Initiative & Whole-of-Society Approach
3. I would like to commend Humanity Matters for stepping forward to bring together members and friends from the faith, civic, corporate, youth and migrant communities for a common and worthy cause to address the increasingly dire humanitarian needs of our fellowmen who are in distress due to the ongoing monsoon floods in our Asian neighbourhood. The launch of the fundraising for Bangladesh and South Asian monsoon relief is a very good example of an active and constructive ground–up and whole of society approach towards humanitarian relief. Our Government is ready to support constructive and collaborative initiatives which help bridge and bond our people for the betterment of our people globally and our neighbours in the region.
Devastating South Asian Monsoon this year
4. We all have seen or read the news of the monsoon rains that have been battering and inundating large swathes of residential and agricultural lands in Bangladesh and India, with the monsoon forecasts anticipating more rain over the next weeks including across Pakistan and Nepal. In a recent United Nations’ situational report published a few days ago, it stated that “over 18 million people in Bangladesh have been affected by severe monsoon conditions, with more than 1.2 million families trapped as flash floods submerge vast areas of the country’s east and southeast”.
5. The report noted that India’s eastern state of Tripura was hit by extraordinary rainfall over 72 hours resulting in the most severe floods in four decades. “The monsoon season also wreaked havoc in Nepal, a country on the frontlines of climate change, experiencing more erratic and intense weather and rapid warming of glaciers, leading to severe flash floods and landslides”. Over in Pakistan, floods have resulted in “extensive damage” to livelihoods and vital infrastructure, including schools and bridges. Over 243 people in Pakistan, about half of them children, have died in this year’s monsoon.
Collective Compassion in Motion
6. Given the extensive and severe destruction and substantial displacement of millions of people which have seriously affected their lives and livelihood, I am deeply encouraged that Humanity Matters will be deploying a relief team this Thursday to Bangladesh which is by far the worst-hit, in terms of scope, scale and severity. The Humanity Matters response team is supporting various humanitarian needs on the ground, that includes water, food, healthcare, hygiene and shelter.
7. Our Bangladeshi and Indian workers, friends who are here in Singapore, you form a substantial percentage of the migrant workforce in Singapore. I know you have been filled with great concern and anxiety over the safety and well-being of your families and your loved ones back in your respective homelands due to the severe and prolonged monsoon season this year.
8. We owe a debt of gratitude to our migrant workers, because you have helped us physically build our nation. So, we must do what we can to help reassure our migrant workers that Singaporeans care for your emotional, social and mental wellness. At the same time, we also encourage our people and companies to show and extend real support to them.
9. I thus now call on Singaporeans to support this fundraising effort by Humanity Matters, as we strive to alleviate the anxiety of our migrant workers and the sufferings of their countrymen. We must give what we can and practice collective compassion in motion. I believe that it is through that, that we will truly become the best version of ourselves and truly reflect one nation, one humanity.
10. Thank you very much.
