Water aid flows as S’wak dry spell bites

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

The Sarawak Welfare Department is increasing the distribution of bottled water to rural communities affected by a severe dry spell that has depleted local water sources. Authorities are also preparing for cloud-seeding operations to stimulate rainfall, aiming to ease the ongoing water shortage across the state.

KUCHING — The Sarawak state Welfare Department is intensifying efforts to provide bottled drinking water to communities affected by a persistent dry spell that has led to the depletion of water sources in several areas.

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, the state Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, highlighted that rural populations dependent on rainwater collection or gravity-fed water systems have been particularly hard hit. She noted that some gravity-fed systems have dried up completely, while river levels and water intake points have fallen, limiting the volume of water available for treatment and household distribution.

In response, the Welfare Department is working closely with the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) to supply bottled water, while JBALB has been delivering water via tanker trucks to reach affected locations.

Statistics from the department indicate that, between January and August 26, more than 450,000 boxes of drinking water were distributed to nearly 50,000 families, benefiting over 225,000 people across the state. On August 31 alone, 750 bottles of 1.5 liters were provided to 375 individuals in 94 families residing in villages within Lundu and Lingga districts.

Fatimah Abdullah urged residents facing water shortages to report their needs to local disaster management committees at the district or divisional level, so assistance can be coordinated effectively. She explained that the allocation of bottled water would be adjusted based on household size and the expected length of support.

Expressing cautious optimism, the minister also mentioned that cloud-seeding operations were scheduled to commence, aiming to induce rainfall over key water catchment areas in Sarawak. Authorities hope this intervention will help alleviate the water scarcity affecting the state.

The ongoing dry spell continues to pose challenges for water supply management across Sarawak, prompting authorities to maintain and expand relief efforts while monitoring weather developments closely.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.