When it rains, it pours: Che Sarimah with her ailing husband and son at the evacuation centre in Kota Baru, Kelantan. — Bernama
KOTA BARU: Floods are a yearly ordeal for 60-year-old Che Sarimah Che Soh, but this time, the burden is heavier.
She must not only move her household belongings, she also has to evacuate a bedridden husband and a disabled child who requires constant care.
Che Sarimah said she and her family had to relocate to a temporary evacuation centre (PPS) after surging floodwaters reached waist level in their house in Kampung Pulau Belacan, Panchor, following continuous heavy rain since last Friday.
“I am used to floods, but this time, it is more challenging because I have to manage my 70-year-old husband, Abdullah Ahmed who is completely paralysed, and my eldest son Muhammad Arif who has Down syndrome,” she said at the PPS of SK Parang Puting here.
She was grateful when members of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) arrived just in time to carry her husband out of the house amid strong currents and the rapidly rising threat.
Although life at the PPS lacks home comforts, Che Sarimah is relieved knowing that basic necessities – including meals, blankets and medical care – are provided, Bernama reported.
“Every day, a doctor comes to check on the condition of the sick and elderly like my husband. I don’t have to go to the clinic just to have his feeding tube changed,” she said.
According to the mother of five, her husband who has been bedridden for the past three years, requires full-time care.
Making good of something bad: A few residents giving their car a wash using the floodwaters in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan. — Bernama
He must be fed special milk every four hours and needs regular changes of diapers and urine bag.
At the same time, her disabled son Muhammad Arif is prone to anxiety attacks in crowded spaces.
“I need to be by their side at all times to reassure them. Thankfully, my second daughter, Nor Alya, 23, is here to help care for both of them.”
Che Sarimah hopes the floodwaters will recede soon so they can return to their normal routine.
Meanwhile, at the PPS at SK Sabak, staff and evacuees have been keeping their spirits high by cooking together over the past few days.
The penghulu of Mukim Sabak, Mohd Abdul Bashir Zakaria, said all evacuees at the centre are residents of Kampung Pulau Gajah, Tebing Tinggi, Sabak, and the surrounding areas of Pengkalan Chepa.
“We have been practising the gotong-royong (communal) concept of preparing meals since Nov 23. This PPS was actually opened earlier, on the night of Nov 22, after water levels rose rapidly.
“At that time, we could only advise newly arrived evacuees to eat whatever they had brought, as food had not yet been prepared,” he said.
He said ingredients such as chicken, meat, fish and eggs are supplied by the Social Welfare Department, while all cooking duties are managed entirely by the evacuees.
“Each family is asked to send a representative to help with the cooking. Since yesterday, they have been taking turns preparing dishes such as fried chicken, meat dishes and soup for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. In a single day, more than five meals are prepared,” he said.
