KUCHING: Occupants of the Stapok Community Hall, one of the 17 evacuation centres in Kuching, heaved a sigh of relief when a team from The Salvation Army Kuching Corps made a recent visit there to distribute food and essentials to those affected by the flood.
At the time of the visit, the Social Welfare Department (JKMS) recorded 207 people or 58 families seeking temporary shelter at the location.
The charitable organisation distributed noodles, rice, eggs, Milo, towels, biscuits, packet drinks, and face masks to the occupants, while children at the hall were also given snacks to lift their spirits.
Families there also required hot, fresh meals, as cooking is not allowed at the evacuation centres in compliance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) by JKMS, and so The Salvation Army returned over the following two days with freshly made chicken porridge for lunch and dinner.
Food aid was also distributed in the flooded area in Kampung Kudei, a lot village on Green Road.
The villagers said they were unable to evacuate due to the Covid-19 pandemic and were advised to remain on the top floors of their houses while they awaited further assistance and for the floodwaters to subside.
They were also unable to buy groceries as the flood waters prevented them from heading outside.
“The current Covid-19 pandemic is a spanner in the works as evacuation centres cannot accommodate too many people,” said Captain Raymond Rubi Aloba, corps officer at The Salvation Army Kuching Corps.
He said that in addition to food and water, people seeking temporary shelter at the centres also required face masks and hand sanitisers to protect themselves from the virus.
“They are also at risk of water-borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera as the flood water may carry those diseases, so cleanliness is essential,” he said.
The non-profit organisation is currently seeking the assistance of individuals and corporations to urgently donate the following items to the families to lighten their load when they return to their respective homes.
These items include cleaning tools (bleach, cleaning detergent, mop, broom, shovel, rubber gloves, and so on); stationery (like pens, pencils, colouring pencils and pencil sharpeners); school uniforms, school bags, and shoes (for primary and secondary school students); groceries (rice, noodles, cooking oil, canned food and biscuits); mineral water/drinking water;
disposable face masks or cloth masks (for children and adults) and sanitisers.
All items must be in good condition and delivered to The Salvation Army Kuching Corps & Community Services at Sekama Road by Jan 20.
Cash donations can be made via direct banking according to the following details. To obtain a tax-exempt receipt, send a copy of the transaction receipt to kuching.corps@smm.salvationarmy.org with the header ‘Kuching Flood 2021’. The Maybank account number for The Salvation Army is 500511960365.
For more information, contact Aloba at 082-333981 or e-mail kuching.corps@smm.salvationarmy.org.
