Fatimah (third left) visiting Rumah Michael Jalak fire victims, accompanied by Welfare Department staff.
SIBU: The fire victims of Rumah Michael Jalak in Tanjung Penasu here have received welfare assistance totalling RM143,980.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the assistance was in the form of construction materials, kitchen utensils, food, pocket money, clothes, school uniforms and school equipment for students.
Extra assistance given included packed food, blankets, milk powder, diapers, milk bottles, sanitary pads and hygiene kits.
She added the department had been assisting the victims from the first day after the fire destroyed the 39-door longhouse on July 12, by providing food assistance for one week.
Fatimah visited the victims to present assistance to them on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the fire which is believed to have started at about 11.30am has left more than 200 residents homeless.
It was the second time the longhouse located by Batang Igan River has been destroyed by fire.
The first incident occurred in April 2001.