KUCHING – The Sarawak government spent RM1.35 million on assistance for disaster victims across the state in 2026, covering those affected by storms, fires, landslides, floods and drought.
Sarawak Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said assistance was provided according to the circumstances and needs of victims following each disaster.
She said immediate support, including food, was provided where possible after a disaster, before officials compiled information on affected households to determine the appropriate form of assistance.
“Whenever a disaster strikes, we provide immediate assistance, such as food, as far as possible. Subsequently, we compile victim profiles – including family size, the head of the household, and ages. Based on this information, we assess the specific assistance required by each victim,” she said.
Fatimah was speaking at a symbolic presentation ceremony for Kuching storm disaster aid for 2026 at Wisma Kebajikan here on Friday, where assistance was handed over to representatives of 20 recipient households.
According to figures provided by the minister, storms accounted for 104 cases during the year, involving 119 heads of households and 378 victims. A total of RM205,700 was allocated for assistance related to these incidents.
Fires recorded the highest expenditure among the disaster categories listed, with RM636,300 provided for 92 cases involving 95 heads of households and 422 victims.
Landslides accounted for 12 cases involving 12 heads of households and 59 victims. Assistance for those affected by landslides totalled RM36,300.
Flood-related incidents comprised 14 cases involving 446 heads of households and 1,714 victims, with RM331,710 spent on assistance.
Drought affected the largest number of people among the categories recorded. There were 36 drought cases involving 1,402 heads of households and 5,149 victims, with assistance totalling RM143,173.40.
The figures show that the scale and type of assistance varied according to the nature of each disaster and the circumstances faced by affected households.
Fatimah said support could include immediate assistance, dry food, school uniforms, everyday clothing and bedding. Depending on the situation, victims could also receive assistance for small businesses and building materials.
The process of assessing individual needs is intended to allow assistance to be matched with the circumstances of affected families, rather than being limited to a single type of relief.
The state government’s assistance comes amid a range of disaster situations affecting communities across Sarawak during the year, with the recorded cases involving both sudden incidents such as storms and fires and longer-running conditions such as drought.
The presentation in Kuching formed part of the government’s efforts to provide assistance to those affected by disasters and to channel support based on information collected from individual households.
Also present at the ceremony were Sarawak Social Welfare Department director Semawi Mohamad, Kuching South City Council Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, Kuching Division Social Welfare Officer Pengiran Mohamad Najib Pengiran Mohamad and Sarawak Social Development Council executive secretary Riziandy Nawawi.
The state government said the assistance covers a range of practical needs, reflecting the different effects that disasters can have on households, from the immediate need for food and essential items to support for rebuilding and restoring livelihoods.
