PUTRAJAYA, Dec 29 — The government has introduced several new initiatives this year to enhance the ability to manage and control disasters in terms of allocating private spaces to flood victims.

The initiative includes creating a collapsible partition, collapsible tent and foam mats, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) said in a statement here today.

“Among the innovative features of the collapsible partition is that it can be used as a divider or it can be connected to be used as a room or cube by using hooks and stoppers.

“Besides that, the partition can be arranged and laid out according to the set space/layout for sleeping, praying, changing and treatment rooms,” it said.

The number of collapsible partitions that have been allocated is 2,128 units while there are 4,000 collapsible tents and 3,000 foam mats.

It said the ministry had acted swiftly through the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to help flood victims in Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Johor.

However, among problems encountered at relief centres were the lack of water, electricity and communication facilities while roads were cut off, subsequently affecting the delivery of food supply to the victims.

“To overcome this problem, the National Security Council (MKN) has leased trucks for food delivery, providing mobile toilets and generator supplies,” he said.

Meanwhile, the JKM, along with subcommittees at relief centres, local leaders and volunteers always maintained a record of flood victims and provided other basic needs as well, it said.

The ministry also informed that 517 welfare volunteers from all over the country had been gathered to assist the JKM officers at relief centres.

As of today, some 74 JKM psychologists have been sent for the mission to  provide crisis intervention services for victims (adults and children) which involved psychotherapy, psycho education, counselling and psychological support at relief centres.

KPWKM urged individuals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate bodies to channel their contributions to the Trust Fund of the ministry to assist in fulfilling the needs of flood victims through their Maybank account at 564016600603.

Donations can also be issued through cheques in favour of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development or the nickname “KSU KEM.PEMB. WANITA, K’RGA & MASY”, the statement said. — Bernama