Immediate aid arrives for victims of longhouse fire

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FOOD AID: Iton (right) supervises the distribution of rice to the fire victims.

KAPIT: The some 300 Rumah Agan Minggat fire victims have received immediate assistance from the Welfare Department and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here.

A team from the department led by assistant community development officer Iton Roseta was on the ground to distribute food packages to the longhouse folk.

Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Kapit members led by chairman Dr Sia Tih Kong and Lions Club of Kapit led by president Stanley Ling sourced for food items such as rice and instant noodles, drinking water as well as clothes for the victims.

The Methodist Social Concern Committee led by chairman Ting King Yiing and Right Reverend Pastor Yu Ming Puo as well as members of the Holy Mary Immaculate Conception Church led by Reverend Father David Ho provided spiritual guidance as well as clothes, cooking utensils, cooking gas and canvas for temporary shelter.

Some of the fire victims are putting up with their relatives nearby, while others have decided to set up temporary shelters near the burnt longhouse while awaiting the next course of action.

On Friday, a fire around 7.30am destroyed the 30-door wooden longhouse erected over 20 years ago by residents originally from Baleh.

Many were unable to salvage anything but the clothes on their backs.