KPWKM Ready To Dispatch More Volunteers To Flood-hit States As Needed
KOTA BHARU, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) will send additional volunteers to flood-hit states throughout the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) season to help manage flood victims, according to the intensity of the situation.
Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad said that, so far, there are 9,782 volunteers from the Social Welfare Department (JKM) who are registered nationwide and 101 additional volunteers were sent to Kelantan on Saturday (Nov 30).
She said this was done to meet Kelantan JKM’s request after the state experienced an unexpected flood that forced more than 96,000 people to evacuate to 264 temporary relief centres.
"In Kelantan, we have about 697 JKM volunteers, but due to many relief centres being opened, we brought in additional volunteers on Saturday to increase the available strength," she said after visiting the relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kubang Kerian 2, which houses 219 victims from 57 families, here today.
Commenting on the preparedness for the next wave of flood, Noraini said there are currently 458 forward bases across the country, with 190 of them in Kelantan, which can provide sufficient food supplies to flood victims.
"If any relief centre has a problem with food supply, just inform JKM and we are ready to act. As a department that takes into account the welfare of the victims, we certainly do not want such things (food supply issues) to occur," she said, denying the allegation that food aid did not reach flood victims at several centres in this state.
Earlier, Noraini surveyed the flood situation from the air aboard a Royal Malaysia Police helicopter and delivered food aid to the Lubok Setol Rukun Tetangga, Rantau Panjang and SMK Baroh Pial relief centre, where floods have cut off road access.
-- BERNAMA
