‘Flood prone areas to be identified for speedy assistance’

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KUCHING: Ministry of Welfare, Women and  Family Development will be holding a discussion with welfare officers at  the district level next  week to identify  areas  highl y prone to flooding to enable preparations for necessary assistance.

Its minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the welfare department had also signed a memorandum  of understanding (MoU)  with  more  t han  200 food suppliers to ensure continuous supply of  food enough  for  more than 4,000 families in case there were shortage of ready stocks.

According   to  the  minister, the  state  was  experiencing  more  rain  fall  than  the  previous years  and  that the   government  was  taking  the  necessary  steps to help possible flood victims.

“The  rainfall  for  this year is more than  previous years, so we  can  expect  more  places will be flooded particularly in the Baram area in Miri.

“In early October, we directed welfare officers to get ready stocks of rice, instant noodles, canned  food  like  sardines,  rice noodle.

“This is cater for more than 4,000 families with four to six members,” she told reporters this  after launching the opening of Wawasan Open University (WOU) Kuching Regional Office yesterday.

She  also  said  that  food will be supplied to evacuation centres.

She also urged those living in flood prone areas to be co-operative when told to move to evacuation centres.

This, she said was to ensure smoother and faster distribution of food.