Nepal tragedy: Support group seeks Tamil counsellors for victims’ families

Solidariti Malaysia: Keluarga Dalam Harapan (MASFIH) has called for certified Tamil-speaking counselors to assist families affected by the Nepal flash flood tragedy, as most next of kin are elderly and prefer communicating in Tamil.

Manivannan emphasized the importance of direct communication without third-party translators to maintain the emotional connection needed in therapy.

Despite efforts by Wisma Putra and Mercy Malaysia to provide counseling, language barriers persist.

The organization also supports the deployment of Malaysia's Special Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team to improve on-the-ground information.

Dr. Manivannan's sister is reported missing in the incident.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Solidariti Malaysia: Keluarga Dalam Harapan (MASFIH), a support group for families of victims in the Nepal flash flood tragedy, has appealed for certified Tamil-speaking counsellors to provide psychological support to affected relatives.

MASFIH representative Dr R. Manivannan said Tamil-speaking counsellors were urgently needed as most of the next of kin were elderly individuals who were only comfortable communicating in their mother tongue.

He noted that while Wisma Putra and Mercy Malaysia proactively offered free counselling services, the initiative faced language barriers as sessions were conducted in Malay and English.

He said using third-party translators during therapy sessions was unsuitable as it could affect the emotional connection families needed during this difficult time.

“Translators may be available, but a third party’s presence might make the families uncomfortable, and the counsellor’s true intent or nuance might not get across to them,” he said.

“Therefore, if there are government or private counsellors fluent in Tamil, we welcome them to contact us so that the screening process can be coordinated with Mercy Malaysia or Wisma Putra,” he told a press conference on the Nepal-Tibet flash flood incident here yesterday.

Meanwhile, he advised families to monitor the emotional state of their immediate relatives to ensure those experiencing trauma received proper screening.

“The families themselves must come forward. Other family members need to be attentive because everyone copes with trauma differently,” he said.

Commenting on the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) expected to deploy to Nepal this Saturday, Manivannan welcomed the effort, saying it would ensure more accurate on-the-ground information.

“At least when Smart arrives, we will receive first-hand updates from our own Malaysian personnel, which will be more accurate and hopefully pave the way for victims’ families to go there later,” he said.

Manivannan’s younger sister, R. Komathi, 48, is among the Malaysians reported missing in the incident. — Bernama

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马来西亚团结互助组织：希望家庭（MASFIH）呼吁聘请有资质的泰米尔语辅导员来帮助受尼泊尔山洪灾害影响的家庭，因为大多数近亲都是老年人，他们更喜欢用泰米尔语交流。

马尼瓦南强调，在治疗过程中，为了保持所需的情感联系，直接沟通（不借助第三方翻译）非常重要。

尽管马来西亚太子院和马来西亚慈济基金会努力提供咨询服务，但语言障碍依然存在。

该组织还支持部署马来西亚特别灾害援助和救援队，以改善实地信息。

据报道，马尼瓦南博士的妹妹在此次事件中失踪。

吉隆坡，9月4日讯——马来西亚团结互助组织：希望之家（MASFIH）是尼泊尔山洪灾害受害者家属的支持团体，该组织呼吁有资质的泰米尔语咨询师为受灾亲属提供心理支持。

MASFIH 代表 R. Manivannan 博士表示，急需会说泰米尔语的咨询师，因为大多数近亲都是老年人，他们只习惯用母语交流。

他指出，虽然Wisma Putra和Mercy Malaysia积极提供免费咨询服务，但由于咨询是用马来语和英语进行的，因此这项举措面临语言障碍。

他表示，在治疗过程中使用第三方翻译是不合适的，因为这可能会影响家庭在这个艰难时期所需的情感联系。

他说：“虽然可能有翻译人员在场，但第三方的出现可能会让家属感到不自在，而且咨询师的真实意图或细微差别也可能无法传达给他们。”

“因此，如果有精通泰米尔语的政府或私人顾问，我们欢迎他们与我们联系，以便与马来西亚仁慈基金会或Wisma Putra协调筛选过程，”他昨天在尼泊尔-西藏突发洪水事件的新闻发布会上说。

与此同时，他建议各家各户密切关注直系亲属的情绪状态，以确保遭受创伤的人得到适当的筛查。

他说：“家属必须主动站出来。其他家庭成员也需要关注，因为每个人应对创伤的方式都不同。”

马尼瓦南对马来西亚特别灾害援助和救援队（Smart）预计将于本周六部署到尼泊尔表示欢迎，称这将确保获得更准确的实地信息。

他说：“至少当Smart抵达后，我们将从我们自己的马来西亚工作人员那里获得第一手最新消息，这将更加准确，并有望为受害者家属日后前往那里铺平道路。”

马尼瓦南的妹妹，48岁的R·科马蒂，是此次事件中失踪的马来西亚人之一。——马新社

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