CARING CULTURE : One of the fire victims from Kampung Nangka, Mary Vivian receives the asistance from the Sarawak State Social Welfare Department, which is handed over by Temenggong Vincent Lau while Noriah (centre) looks on.
SIBU: Towards further improving the quality of its services in channeling immediate assistance to victims of natural disasters, the Sarawak State Social Welfare Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak yesterday.
The Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development, Datuk Fatimah Abdullah stressed that natural disasters include fires, landslides, droughts and floods, just to name a few.
“The MOU aims to speed up the delivering of natural disasters information from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department Sarawak to the Sarawak State Social Welfare Department through the ‘INFO BLAST’ System.
“This is very important because it will greatly help us to deliver immediate assistance to the natural disasters victims,” she said in her speech that was delivered by the Sarawak state director of Social Welfare Department, Noriah Ahmad at a function held at the MUC Hall.
Temenggong Vincent Lau, the director of Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department Sarawak, Nor Hisham Mohammad and Sibu Resident Sim Kok Kee were also present.
The fire victims of Kampung Nangka and Kampung Usaha Jaya Baru, Sentosa Road, Salim also received their asisstance from the Sarawak State Social Welfare Department during the function.
“The MOU also served as a platform in encouraging closer cooperation among government departments and agencies in line with the National Blue Ocean Strategy.
“It will not only benefit both government departments and agencies involved but also the victims,” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, Fatimah said the Sarawak State Social Welfare Department also provides counselling service to fire victims who experience post trauma.
“Our department has well-trained and registered counsellors who can help fire victims who need help.
“The type of counselling services provided is for individuals, group, career and family as well as counselling in terms of advice and guidance,” she elaborated.
Fatimah said those who get the counselling services are individuals, mothers/fathers, family, youth, people with disabilities and senior citizens.