KUCHING: The Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah has lauded the welfare aid doled out by various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help needy families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
She cited Hope Place Kuching as one of the NGOs which had often assisted the frontline staff of Sarawak General Hospital (HUS) in transporting and providing aid during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Together with their network of generous sponsors and volunteers, they have given one-off food aid to more than 10,000 needy families in Sarawak since the movement control order (MCO) was enforced last year.
The donations comprise essential food items including rice, biscuits, noodle, sugar, cooking oil, oat, Milo, milk powder and also baby diapers, she said.
The minister received a courtesy visit from members of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Sarawak Blessed Church today.
The NGO is actively assisting and caring for the poor and needy through its Project Love and Mercy programme.
Since the beginning of MCO in March 2020, Sarawak Blessed Church has distributed aid to 1,500 families, consisting of 1,500 packs of 10kg rice, 3,000 trays of eggs, 3,000 packets of instant noodles, 3,000 packets of biscuits, 3,000 boxes of mineral water and 6,000 cans of sardines.
Fatimah revealed that another NGO which has been assisting the needy was Kuching Food Aid (KFA).
“Kuching Food Aid begun to answer calls from local charities, NGOs and ex-welfare workers who were receiving daily calls from desperate families living in villages and longhouses affected by the lockdown.
“Each food box contains essential supplies such as rice, flour, biscuits, noodles, pickled lettuce, soya sauce, sugar, cooking oil, coffee, tea, sardines and vegetable.
“KFA has delivered moreover 15,000 food boxes to needy families throughout Sarawak since November 2020,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) together with 10 supermarkets in Samarahan had launched The Community Pantry programme which benefited over 2,000 households from July 4 until July 12.
“The programme was conducted because they understood the plight of the community who are affected by the implementation of the MCO.
“The supermarkets involved are LePaPa Hypermarket, Farley Supermarket, Sen Sen Department Store, H&L Supermarket, Aiman Mall, Emart Summer Mall, Unaco Supermarket, CS Mini Market, Elli Supermarket and Choice Supermarket.
“Food packs consist of essential food items such as bread, noodles, veggies, biscuits and beverages.”
Fatimah revealed that the ministry had aided a total of 246,345 needy families (KIR) from 2020 to July 28, 2021, at a total cost of RM47,892,276.
