SEGAMAT: A tent built by the Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) is likened to a 'one-stop centre' for 71 villagers of Kampung Chodan here, when it became a place for flood victims to get food aid, basic necessities as well as seek shelter.

The six-square-metre tent, located about two kilometres from Sungai Chodan was built last Sunday after the community hall that was supposed to be used as a relief centre was inundated after the river burst its banks.

Apart from being a shelter for 12 people from four families, health screenings are also conducted here for villagers who were not evacuated during the floods.

Shima Yahaya, 39, said apart from her family's house, the relief centre in Kampung Tekam as well as a nearby community hall were also flooded and she had no where to go.

"Our needs here are all adequately met, from food aid to health checks, while residents who are not staying here also come for help and free medical check-ups provided by non-governmental organisations (NGOs)," said Shima.

"We are grateful for this assistance and hope the water will recede but often it will take a long time," she told Bernama when met here today.

Mukim Pogoh village chief Hamzah Abu Bakar said Kampung Chodan was flooded due to overflow from Sungai Muar and Sungai Segamat, despite several days of hot weather with no rain.

"Pogoh, including Kampung Chodan, is traditionally a flood-prone area and so far nine relief centres have been opened with various assistance channelled from government agencies and NGOs.

"Those not living in the relief centres are also given assistance and we have a record of the evacuees and non-evacuees," he said after inspecting the situation at the tent along with personnel from Police Special Action Unit and Segamat Fire and Rescue Department.

A Bernama survey around Pogoh sub-districts such as in Kampung Tekam and Chodan, found the area perched like a small island only reachable by boat, with its main route swamped.

-- BERNAMA