MIRI – Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) teams in the interiors of northern Sarawak have helped welfare authorities deliver tonnes of food aid to thousands of longhouse folks affected by heavy floods last month.
The recipients include residents in the Marudi, Mulu and Telang Usan districts.
In a statement, Sarawak Bomba said that its squad in Marudi used a tugboat to send food packs to 13 remote settlements.
The supplies were arranged by the Welfare Department in Marudi town and transported via river tributaries along Sg Marudi and Sg Baram.
Among the badly affected populated longhouses are Rumah Vincent, Rumah Berinang and Lubok Tunang.
Last week, an environmental group had urged the Sarawak government to bring in experts if it cannot prevent the ever-worsening floods across this state.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia ground coordinator Jok Jau Evong had said there seem to be zero mitigation measures implemented against floods in interior Sarawak.
Jok had said this was the second time this year since January that Sg Baram and its tributaries had overflowed, flooding areas in Marudi, Telang Usan, and Mulu.
“Villages and longhouses have been inundated outside of Marudi town, as well as all the riverine settlements located along Sg Baram, Sg Tutoh, and other tributaries,” said Jok, a native of Baram. – The Vibes, April 1, 2022