On February 6, five days after the worst flooding in Jakarta's modern history, over half of the Indonesian capital remained under water. Heavy rain at the early hours of Tuesday morning triggered another wave of flooding in the places, which have been receding the day before. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people -- many of them from the lowest economic strata -- remained stranded at various temporary shelters across the five Jakarta municipalities.
An uncertain future looms large among many of the hardest hit victims international aid and development agency World Vision is providing relief assistance to, as they question when they can return to their homes. Some of them have completely lost their houses, which were swept away by raging waters pounding the riverbanks.
"I actually plan to take my family back home today because the flood waters had been significantly receding yesterday," a resident in Cawang, East Jakarta, said Tuesday. "But the heavy downpour has forced us to cancel the plan. The flooding has jumped to about one meter high in my home."
World Vision Indonesia National Director Trihadi Saptoadi also expressed similar concerns. "Uncertainties are indeed our main problems," Trihadi said Tuesday. "The flooding could turn even worse or to dry up in the coming days. Nobody has the answer."
As reported earlier, the Meteorology and Geophysics Office predicted heavy rains would continue pounding Jakarta and its greater areas up to the next two weeks. Scores of Chinese people also believe that heavy rains would continue until the Chinese New Year on February 18.
Trihadi, following his visit to flooded areas in East Jakarta, noted that hygiene and sanitation in established temporary shelters were very poor, among other reasons due to the lack of clean water supplies. "The flood victims, particularly children, are very prone to flood-related illnesses."
Reports have started surfacing of increasing numbers of children suffering from dehydration, diarrhea, cold and skin irritation. Health officers in Tangerang, west of Jakarta, for example, has initiated the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of abate and chlorine to kill germs in the water containers in flooded areas to prevent leptospirosis and other related illnesses.
Charles Sinaga, World Vision's Jakarta programme coordinator said today, that if the floods do not subside soon, many children might indeed suffer from serious illnessess. He continued, "Many children sleep on the floor with very thin plastic sheets and a number could not take a bath or clean themselves due to limited water supplies. Many of them also have no proper clothing."
World Vision, therefore, started distributing children clothes on Tuesday to help protect the children from getting sick. "We also want to distribute more proper mattresses. But, most suppliers have run out of stocks right now. We will continue trying to get them soon, " Charles said.
World Vision relief teams have continued to distribute food, non-food and common medicines to thousands of families in project areas in East Jakarta and North Jakarta on February 6. The distribution was part of the second batch of relief aid worth over US$190,000 that World Vision is distributing this week. The aid would support a total of more than 7,300 families (around 25,000 people). In the first batch, over the weekend, World Vision distributed US$45,000 worth food and non-food relief goods to 3,000 families (over 10,000 people). World Vision plans to have a total of US$350,000 program to help the flood victims.
Hanung Sutaryadi, one of the field coordinators, remained upbeat although he was exhausted from long hours of work distributing the relief goods. "It's a bit frustrating sometimes. But, we are grateful that the victims have been very cooperative. They join hands to unload the goods and to help organize the distribution."
"We are touched as some of the victims expressed their sincere gratitude as they receive the relief aid," Hanung said.
The government made a rough estimate that the floods caused some 4.1 trillions of rupiah (almost USD 500 million) loss. Most business activities in Jakarta have been suspended since Friday. Reports said at least 36 people in Greater Jakarta have lost their lives in this disaster.
For more information or media interviews from Jakarta, please contact:
World Vision Indonesia Director Trihadi Saptoadi (Mobile: +62-8159802874; Home: +62-21-74861423
WV Relief Coordinator Jimmy Nadapdap (Mobile: +62-818471074)
WV Indonesia Communications Manager Hendro Suwito (Mobile: +62-811997762)
or Andrea Russell, APRO Crisis & Relief Communications Manager (Home/Office: +91 040 40179428; Cell: +91-9989238223).
Note: Photos of the Jakarta floods are available on request.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
