By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, July 15: A total of 867 households in this district have received assistance in the form of food baskets, out of 1,212 applications received by the Miri Welfare Task Force.
The food aid was distributed from July 4 to 14 this year.
According to a statement by the Miri Divisional Disaster Management Committee (MDDMC) today, the recipients included those residing in Bekenu.
MDDMC formed the task force earlier this month to assist residents who need food aid during Phase One of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
The establishment of the task force which involves various government agencies is meant to assist and coordinate the distribution of food assistance to people in need in Miri.
The task force also helps to identify non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that can assist and channel proper assistance based on household needs such as milk, diapers, medical aid and other assistance to recipients, including Hikmah Miri branch and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society Miri branch.
On the white flag movement, MDDMC disclosed the Welfare Department has advised those who have received food assistance to take the flag down to avoid duplications in receiving food distributions.
MDDMC noted that some people may have taken advantage of the white flag movement.
Based on investigations conducted by Miri Welfare Department on the ground, some member of the public raised the white flag because they saw others do the same thing and some might trying their luck to get food baskets.
Some have even sold the food aid received to get money in return. — DayakDaily
