By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Apr 18: The food aid for the poor and needy has been distributed to 63 constituencies out of the total of 82 constituencies in Sarawak.
The food supply chain subcommittee deputy chairperson Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah revealed that as of April 16, most of the constituencies especially those located in the rural and remote areas have received the food aid while the distribution of food aid to the remaining 19 constituencies was still in progress.
“The distribution of food to the target groups is done through land, river and air transportation.
“For rural and remote areas such as Telang Usan, Murum, Mulu, Batang Ai, Meluan, Pakan, Engkilili dan Balai Ringin, which are not reachable by road, the Sarawak Government has enlisted helicopter services, from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) and Hornbill Skyways.
“There was approximately 41,859 kilogrammes of food that was transported by helicopter services which are benefiting 2,933 households.
“It (transportation of food using helicopter) started on April 5 and completed on April 11.
“All the distribution is carried out in compliance with the Movement Control Order (MCO) rulings,” Fatimah who is Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister said in a statement.
At the same time, Fatimah revealed that 324,224 households or 91 per cent of the households out of the total number of 349,449 households registered with 12 Divisional Disaster Management Committees (DDMC) throughout Sarawak have received food assistance from the state government.
She asserted that the food aid provided by the state government to Sarawakians is managed centrally by the DDMC, comprising of the Residents, District Officers, Sarawak Welfare Department, related government agencies, the elected representatives’ service centers, and the relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“I would like to reiterate here that all fundings are channelled to and managed by the DDMC and all payments to the relevant food suppliers for the purchase of food will be made by the DDMC,” Fatimah pointed out. —DayakDaily
