MARUDI: Floodwaters affecting the district are fast receding and suggestions have been made to improve relief efforts in the future.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also State Disaster Management Committee chairman, flew in yesterday to view the situation first-hand.
He was taken to the affected parts of the town before attending briefings given by Marudi district officer Mackos Sibong and Beluru district officer Alfred Geling.
One of the suggestions was for the surface of the road from Marudi town to the ferry terminal to be raised. Uggah later urged the Marudi District Council to submit a report to be sent to the Miri Resident’s Office by next week.
“If the level is raised by at least two feet, Marudi town would not be cut off from the rest of the state should a big flood recur,” said Sibong in his briefing.
Uggah pointed out that the suggestion was ideal as flood was expected to recur in the state from January to March next year.
He also suggested that the voluntary emergency response teams at longhouses and rural villages to be further strengthened or expanded as they could be the first responders to any disaster.
On the reported shortage of cooking gas, he said no such complaint had been received by the relief teams on the ground.
Meanwhile, Baram MP Anyi Ngau, who was also present, said he was happy with the relief work done in the two districts, suggesting that more longboats and outboard engines be made available for such efforts to cope with future floods in more inland locations.
Of the 56 locations comprising villages, longhouses, and the town residential areas affected when the flood began on Dec 9, life has returned to normal in 14 locations.
It is almost over in 20 others, while it is gradually improving in 22 more. Some 6,449 people from 1,597 families in Marudi were affected.
However, so far, only two families or nine individuals including a baby from Kampung Anak Kerbau were evacuated to the Marudi Civic Centre out of concern for the rising waters which could flood their homes.
In Beluru, some 431 families comprising 2,065 individuals from 28 villages and longhouses out of the 208 were affected, although there were no evacuation operations.
Uggah commended the various government departments and agencies for their prompt and effective responses despite the challenging situation, especially in terms of transportation.
“We are clearly on top of the situation. Our priorities have been to save lives and property, as well as ensuring that the victims have sufficient food and medicine,” he said.
He agreed to the setting up of more forward posts for relief operations, particularly on the more forward locations.
