Second Quarter Summary 2026

April– June 2026

During the second quarter of 2026, CREST continued strengthening disaster preparedness, community-based coordination, and partnerships with organisations serving vulnerable populations. Through humanitarian training, social service engagement, professional development, and practical flood mitigation initiatives, CREST remained committed to reducing disaster risks and building more resilient communities.

1. Strengthening Local Disaster Coordination and Preparedness

In April, CREST continued highlighting the importance of structured coordination in disaster response. Despite the best intentions of humanitarian responders, emergency operations could face significant challenges when roles and responsibilities were unclear or coordination systems were insufficient.

CREST addressed these challenges through disaster response training designed to strengthen the capabilities of local responders and community coordination teams. By establishing clearer responsibilities and improving collaboration before disasters occurred, these initiatives aimed to support faster, more organised, and more effective humanitarian operations.

This approach was particularly relevant to disaster-prone communities across Southeast Asia, where proactive preparation and locally established coordination systems played an important role in improving response capabilities and supporting recovery. CREST remained committed to investing in local capacity as a foundation for sustainable disaster risk reduction.

2. Learning from Community-Based Social Services

In April, CREST joined Catholic Welfare Services (CWS) and the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocesan Office for Human Development (AOHD) on visits to social service centres in Ipoh and Penang. The visits provided opportunities to learn from organisations dedicated to caring for vulnerable individuals and families, including the elderly and children.

Among the ministries visited were the Little Sisters of the Poor, whose nuns had faithfully served the elderly for more than 70 years, and Good Shepherd services, which supported children through education, protection, and care.

These visits highlighted the importance of compassionate, practical service in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities. They also reinforced the connection between social care and CREST’s humanitarian mission, particularly as disadvantaged populations often faced heightened challenges during disasters.

The experience served as a valuable reminder that community resilience depended not only on emergency assistance, but also on sustained care, dignity, and support for those most in need.

3. Travel Medicine Seminar and Humanitarian Preparedness

In February, In June, CREST attended the Second IMU University Travel Medicine Seminar, which brought together healthcare professionals, academics, government agencies, travel industry representatives, insurers, airlines, media personnel, and travellers.

The seminar was inaugurated by Malaysia’s Health Minister, YB Datuk Seri Haji Dr Dzulkefly bin Ahmad.

The programme featured expert discussions on a range of topics, including artificial intelligence and digital health in tourism, psychological well-being during travel, One Health approaches to sustainable travel, and the risks associated with zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases.

Practical sessions on pre-travel consultations, risk assessment, and travel vaccinations were particularly relevant to CREST’s humanitarian operations. The knowledge shared provided useful insights for strengthening health risk awareness and preparedness among staff and volunteers involved in field deployments.

CREST appreciated IMU University for organising this informative seminar, which supported continued learning in areas relevant to humanitarian travel and disaster response.

4. Kelantan Flood Preparedness and Community Resilience

As preparations for the annual Northeast Monsoon season progressed, CREST continued working with communities in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, to reduce the impact of recurring floods. The 12 × 12-foot flood rafts developed by CREST had been well received by local residents, with more than 50 rafts assembled to date in collaboration with partner NGOs.

Working alongside Caritas Penang, KDRN, and AOHD, CREST supported the assembly of additional rafts in Kampung Tersang, a low-lying village frequently affected by flooding from the nearby Sungai Golok. These rafts were designed to keep electrical appliances and other valuable household items above rising floodwaters, helping families reduce potential property losses.

The distribution of power banks complemented these efforts by helping residents maintain communication during flood emergencies. CREST had also provided cleaning and disinfection supplies to flood evacuation centres to help reduce the risk of infectious diseases in crowded living conditions.

Together, these initiatives reflected CREST’s continued emphasis on practical, community-based disaster risk reduction. By combining household-level protection, communication support, and public health measures, CREST and its partners worked to help vulnerable communities prepare more effectively for the challenges of the monsoon season.