Kota Kinabalu: The State Government is urged to consider providing retort foods – ready-to-eat sealed meals that are hygienic and safe to eat - for natural disaster victims like during floods.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah & Sarawak Affairs, and Special Duties) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who made the proposal, said preparing retort food, which is similar to sealed military food, is very easy as no hot water is needed and can be eaten right away.
Besides, he said, retort food would not easily get rotten and even up to two years. Such food also has sufficient nutrients packed using existing technology.
Armizan said such food could be stock piled in flood-prone districts to be channelled to flood victims without delay during rainy spell brought by the monsoons.
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“We have received complaints of flood victims who reached the centres but having to wait for quite some time for meals which came late.
“I don’t blame the Welfare Department officers and district offices which are responsible to supply the meals because they are also facing difficulties to buy the ingredients in preparing the meals under critical situation. Also road access might be cut off due to the flooding.
“Also they may face difficulties to buy meals from restaurants as premises could not open to supply the packed foods due to the flood that may cause road to be inaccessible,” he said after closing a State Disaster Operation and Management Workshop involving 17 agencies related to rescuing victims of natural disaster, here.
Among the 17 agencies are Civil Defence Force (APM), firefighters, and National Disaster Management Authority (Nadma) senior officials.
He added that flood victims face difficulties to cook at relief centres as cooking gas cylinders and stove have to be provided which is not always possible under bad weather and heavy floods.
“That is why I am calling not only Sabah but all State governments to discuss this proposal with State Natural Disaster Management Committee Chairman who is the State Secretary, Welfare Department and Nadma that will always give a helping hand.
“It is not for Nadma to decide for state governments to take up this proposal but the State Government is the one that needs to decide, which is important for implementation.
“In terms of funding, the Federal Government will channel allocations to Nadma which will send to the State Government,” he said.
Armizan also recommended providing retort foods for the first two meals are vital, especially at flood relief centres on the first day being relocated there.
He was made to understand that some states in the country had adopted providing retort meals but on a small scale.
“There is a need to provide these retort meals on a large scale, particularly in hot spot areas like Kudat, Kota Marudu, among others, that are often flooded during the rainy seasons.
“The villagers in those rural districts have to be rescued from their homes during floods and send them to relief centres for shelter and food while flood recedes,” he said.
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