Provision of bottled water to drought victims improved — Fatimah

KUCHING: The Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKM) has improved the provision of bottled water to victims of drought in the state.

Wel fare, Community Wel l Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah told this to reporters during a press conference at Wisma Kebajikan yesterday.

She said previously, under the JKM disaster relief scheme, only two boxes of water (12 bottles/36 litres) were given to each family affected by drought for a week.

“Two boxes might not be enough for a big family, thus taking into account the matter, the department through the aid scheme has improved the supply of bottled water by allocating two water boxes to one individual for a week,” she added.

To meet the demand, she also informed that a forward base would be set up to deliver bottled drinking water if there was a need.

Besides bottled water, JKM would also provide 70 gallons of water by tankers for families per week and if the water authority is unable to supply, the department would then appoint any party to deliver the water, she added.

As of yesterday, she said Sarawak JKM had spent RM794,920 to help drought victims throughout the state by providing bottled water and water in tanks, including shipping costs to drought-affected areas.

Fat imah adv ised s chool headmasters and principals to inform the disaster relief committee at the district level of their need for water before their supply of water runs out.

“Up to now, eight schools were affected by drought — two in Limbang and one each in Kuching, Serian, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu and Mukah,” she said.

She also informed that from Jan 1 to April 2 this year, there were a total of 143 drought cases involving 26,818 victims and over RM1.137 million had been used by JKM to provide disaster relief and immediate assistance such as building materials, food and other forms of assistance.