Villagers in flood-hit rural areas in northern Sarawak in dire need of help

NUMEROUS settlements and schools in the remote Baram district in northern Sarawak have been hit by floods again.

These include Long Panai, Long Bemang, Long Laput, Long Loyang, Long Jegan, Long Sobeng, Long Teran and several schools in these areas.

Long Banga village to PaDalih village has also been inundated by floods and the roads into these areas have also been eroded, while a bridge collapsed along with the route from Long Bedian to Miri.

Social activist Willie Kajan said the affected folks are desperately waiting for food aid and other assistance.

"Flood waters have covered the ground floor of the longhouses and many villagers have been trapped for days and unable to get out to the towns.

"The worry is that the rain and floods and erosion will get worse," he told The Vibes today.

The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said it has already readied flood relief centres in 660 populated localities throughout Sarawak that can cater to about 170,000 flood victims.

"Heavy rainfall is expected to hit Sarawak in December and it may last until February 2025.

"The highest rainfall is expected in January," the committee said in a statement.

On Sept 18, it was reported that the federal government will help the Sarawak state government to set up another two major flood preparation operation centres in Sibu and Miri as early preparations to face the impending floods.

The landas season in Sarawak is the equivalent of the monsoon in the east coast of the peninsula. - October 10, 2024