School children wade through flood waters at Melin Lane in Sibu after registering themselves at school yesterday.
Minister calls on parents to keep children away if flood situation worsens in some areas
KUCHING: Parents have been advised not to send their children to school when the new term starts tomorrow if travelling to school could expose them to the danger of flood water especially those who have to travel by river to get to school.
Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah who sounded the caution yesterday told The Borneo Post that because of the incessant rain, rivers would be swollen with swift current while low lying areas could be flooded.
“Education is very important and students should not miss school. But parents must make sure that it is safe for their children to travel to school. Parents especially those in rural areas must be more alert.
“Presently, water level in rivers is high and current is fast. If rivers are too dangerous to travel, it would be better for the parents to keep their children at home rather than going to school when school opens on Thursday.”
Fatimah added that even her own travelling plan had been disrupted by high waters and floods as she had put her visit to a rural school in Oya tomorrow on hold as travelling to that school whether by air, road or river is presently unsafe.
The minister feared that if the rain were to persist, some schools could be flooded tomorrow and had to be closed.
“However, school principals must be in constant communication with district education officers. They must ask permission from the officers for their schools to be closed,” said Fatimah.
On the statewide flood situation, Fatimah said as of 11am yesterday, 50 areas were still flooded affecting a total 1,436 households and 8,454 people and so far RM62,845 worth of food aid had been dispatched.
“The most seriously hit division is Miri. Floods started to hit various places there as early as Dec 20. So far 33 areas have been flooded there affecting 1,159 families with 7,300 people ,” said Fatimah.
She said as of 11am yesterday, six evacuation centres were in operation across the state housing 47 families and 214 victims. Of the six evacuation centres, three are in Miri, one in Bintulu and two in Bau, Kuching.
The Dalat Assembly Woman said some communities might be totally cut off as roads to their villages were impassable because of flood while some were directly affected as their houses were inundated.
She said for those who were cut off from towns the state Disaster Relief committee (JPBN) had been sending in food aid while the evacuation had to be carried out for flood victims whose houses were flooded.
“The district that first experienced flood in the state is Baram. We have sent in food ration for a week. We are now not sure if they need more food since the last food aid was sent earlier on.
“So I urge the community leaders of affected areas to keep constant touch with the officers of JPBN to ensure the officers of the latest updates. This is of utmost importance,” reminded Fatimah.
She said these officers were working on two-shift basis, finishing at 10 pm in the evening but if situations worsened they would have to work round the clock.