KUCHING, Oct 31: Social Welfare Department (JKM) Sarawak has identified 627 temporary evacuation centres (PPS) across the State in preparation of potential floods during the North East Monsoon season.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah highlighted that these evacuation centres collectively have the capacity to accommodate up to 162,091 individuals.
“There are four large-scale PPS capable of housing over 1,000 people, 101 mid-sized PPS for between 500 to 999 people, and smaller-scale PPS for about 500 people.
“JKM has 10,000 tents prepared to be set up in the PPS to ensure privacy of victims, and this number does not include assets provided by other collaborating agencies,” she said in a statement yesterday (Oct 30).
Fatimah also disclosed that 252 suppliers have been appointed to supply food to the PPS with disaster needs storage capacity capable of holding up to a maximum 466 tonnes of disaster-related necessities.
JKM has also been mobilised to fill up 29 identified forward bases set up in flood-prone areas with each to be supplied with 2,175 units of dry food rations.
“A team of 541 members comprising JKM staff, psychological officers and counsellors, as well as 1,443 volunteers are fully prepared to assist during the monsoon season.
“JKM also have 48 vehicles from federal and Sarawak (authorities) to be mobilised. Although this may be insufficient, there will be support from other agencies and to be coordinated by the Sarawak Disaster Mnagement Committee (SDMC),” she added. — DayakDaily
