KOTA BAHARU: The newly-formed Kelantan Flood Disaster Relief Committee will focus on the four districts worst affected by the floods where there is a critical shortage of food and medical supplies, its chairman, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said yesterday.
He named the districts as Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas, Tumpat and Tanah Merah, to which access by land has been cut off.
“These four areas are reported to be facing a critical shortage of food, drinks and access to health facilities.
“The committee will strive to expedite the despatch of food and medical supplies in whatever way possible,” he told reporters at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa here.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak flew in to Kelantan today to have a first-hand look at the disaster-stricken areas where more than 80,000 people have been displaced in nine districts.
Mustapa, who is the international trade and industry minister, said that though the Kuala Krai and Kota Baharu districts were faced with a serious predicament, the situation was under control as all essential goods could be channelled to the victims.
He said that generally the flood phenomenon in Kelantan was a challenging one and the primary issue that the committee had to tackle was associated with food, drinks and medicines.
“We will pool all our assets to focus on the areas cut off from food and medical supplies. That is our priority,” he said.
Mustapa also advised the people unaffected by the floods not to panic because there was adequate supply of food and fuel.
He also advised the people not to be taken in by the rumours being circulated in the social media which, he said, could cause unease among the people.
Mustapa welcomed the donations and contributions from all quarters for the flood victims, especially in the worst-affected areas, and said these could be sent directly to them without the need to go through the committee. — Bernama