Waja Squad volunteers ready to help flood victims nationwide

Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff
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KUALA NERUS – A total of 326,500 members of the Women Development Department’s Waja Squad are prepared to be deployed to help flood victims across the country during the impending monsoon season.

Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff said the volunteers were capable of helping the victims in various aspects, including providing psychosocial support.

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“So far, the Waja Squad had registered 326,500 volunteers and some of them had attended relevant courses and training.

“Among the roles of Waja Squad members are to tackle psychosocial issues faced by the flood victims at relief centres,” she told reporters after opening Sayyidatina Aishah Day 2022 and launching the Terengganu Women Policy at the State Sports Complex Indoor Stadium in Gong Badak near here today.

Apart from that, she said part of the 16,239 Social Welfare Department staff will also provide counselling services to traumatised first-time flood victims.

Meanwhile, Siti Zailah advised the public who are depressed or experiencing mental stress to seek counselling services available at 108 district welfare offices nationwide.

She said the Kasih hotline 15999, WhatsApp number 019-2615999 and toll-free line 1800 820 300 could also be used to seek help and advice, or even to lodge complaints about domestic violence.

“In this regard, I want to advise all women, and also men, not to take the easy way out by committing suicide as it is a major sin,” she said when asked to comment on an incident involving a woman who tried to jump off the Sultan Yahya Petra Bridge in Kelantan yesterday.

In another development, Siti Zailah also called on local communities to play their roles to ensure the safety of children so as to avoid abduction or kidnapping incidents.

“When sending the children to school, parents or guardians must ensure that they entered the school area safely and never leave them alone,” she added. – Bernama

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