BETONG: The Sarawak government has allocated RM349,361 to purchase disaster relief supplies and equipment for flood victims this year.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the allocation will be distributed to the forward bases for the purchase of dry food and clean water supplies in the state.
"The Social Welfare Department in all divisions will collaborate with the divisional and district disaster management committees to make preparations by conducting regular inspections of the temporary evacuation centres," she said at the launch of a simulation exercise in preparation to face floods that may occur due to heavy rain brought about by the northeast monsoon.
Fatimah said the department will deploy 1,880 personnel consisting of officers, counsellors, psychological officers and community volunteers to the evacuation centres to help the flood victims.
She said they will work on shifts to ensure that they are not exhausted and can perform their duties optimally during the opening of the evacuation centres in areas affected by the flood.
She said the training and simulation programme is an important element of the department in preparation to face disasters.
"It aims to ensure that the department staff and related agencies have a clear understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities and are able to respond quickly and effectively when disasters occur, especially in areas having a high potential to be flooded during the northeast monsoon," she said.
Fatimah also said that the department has distributed RM7.3 million in disaster assistance to 153,981 victims from January to October this year.
She said the highest assistance was for clean water supply during the dry season, which was RM3.8 million for 117,633 victims, followed by fire (RM2.2 million - 2,312 victims), flood (RM923,000 - 32,281 victims), storm (RM268,000 - 697 victims), and landslide (RM101,000 - 1,044 victims).
"Overall, Miri division recorded the highest number of disaster cases with 477 cases involving 56,002 victims and assistance of RM2,119,610," she said.
She said this was followed by Sibu Division, recording 47 cases involving 22,622 victims with assistance of RM1,087,683 and Bintulu with 85 cases involving 5,466 victims with assistance of RM946,564.80.