Melaka Welfare Dept allocates RM100,000 for flood evacuees basic needs

MELAKA: The Melaka Social Welfare Department has allocated RM100,000 for the purchase of basic necessities for flood evacuees housed at temporary relief centres (PPS) in the state during the monsoon season this year.

Its director Burhanuddin Bachik said the basic necessities include towels, blankets, batik and pelikat sarung, toiletries and mats, are for the comfort of evacuees during their stay at the PPS.

“If the allocation is not enough, we will apply for additional funding from the headquarters to ensure that the basic needs of the evacuees can be provided.

“The department has a Disaster Needs Storage Depot in Muar, Johor to store basic necessities for evacuees in the southern zone involving Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Johor,” he said when met by reporters at Ayer Molek PPS here today.

Apart from that, he said that the state government through the state disaster fund also allocated RM20 a day for each person, in the form of three meals, namely, breakfast (RM4), lunch (RM6) and dinner (RM6).

He said two department staff are stationed at each PPS to monitor and ensure the welfare of evacuees.

Burhanuddin said counsellors are also on hand to provide intervention services and psychological support to those who are going through traumatic experiences.

Other leisure activities especially involving children are also held including colouring activities and board games as therapy for young evacuees.

Meanwhile, according to the SWD InfoBencana application, the number of people evacuated due to floods in Melaka has dropped to 404 as at 2 pm compared to 416 people reported at 12 noon today.

This was following the closure of the PPS at Sekolah Kebangsaan Ganun which housed 12 people from four families at 12 noon.

All 404 people are now housed in five PPS in three districts while the weather is reported to be cloudy and intermittent rain is expected in the afternoon.

-- BERNAMA