KEDA ALLOCATES RM115,000 TO PROVIDE FOOD BASKETS FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

ALOR SETAR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- The Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) has allocated RM115,000 to provide food baskets for flood victims in its region through the Satu Pemimpin Satu Kampung (Santuni MADANI) programme.

KEDA General Manager Ismasuhaimi Shariff said that RM80,000 from the total allocation was intended for flood victims outside Desa KEDA, RM30,000 for staff of KEDA and agencies under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) affected by the disaster, while the remainder would be channelled to flood victims from Desa KEDA and those in the Santuni MADANI programme area.

“The food baskets will be distributed to those affected by the flood disaster, with all donations to be delivered soon. Additionally, KEDA has mobilised its Prihatin KEDA Squad to assist in post-flood recovery efforts.

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“We will assess the damage in the KEDA area and report our findings to the KKDW for further action,” he said at a ceremony to hand over aid to flood victims in Tongkang Yard here today.

At the event, 50 sets of food baskets containing essential items such as rice and sugar were handed over to the Al-Ihsan Mosque Committee for distribution to kariah members affected by the floods.

According to Ismasuhaimi, several students from KEDA College volunteered to assist victims by repairing electrical equipment and motorcycles damaged by the floods at no cost.

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“The Prihatin KEDA Squad will identify flood victims in need of assistance, after which we will source the necessary spare parts. Our students will utilise their skills to repair the damaged equipment, and we hope this small contribution will ease the victims’ burden,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the food basket recipients Salmah Hassan, 73, said the donation meant a great deal to her and her daughter after their rented house, which had already suffered flood damage, was destroyed in a fire this morning.

“Floodwaters rose to waist level last Tuesday, causing some equipment in the house to be submerged. Today, the house caught fire, but fortunately, we were not at home during the incident. We managed to take some household items and our cats to the new house we rented on Jalan Langgar,” she said.

Mohd Yatim Mohd Akhir, 68, who has been suffering from a stroke for the past six years, said that the recent floods were among the worst in recent years.

“Even though the water rose quite high for three days, my family and I decided to stay at home because our house was still safe...I am thankful to KEDA for their generous donations to the flood victims here, which has helped lighten our burden,” he said.

-- BERNAMA