World Vision to distribute relief aid to more than 7,300 of the city's
poorest residents this week. February 5, 2007 By Janet Root, Assistant Web Editor Jakarta remains under water after torrential rains inundated Indonesia's
capital city of 10 million
over the weekend. In some places, floodwaters are
more than 12 feet deep.Estimates now are that some 500,000 residents have had to flee for safe
shelter; meanwhile, the number of displaced is
expected to rise as rains are
forecast to continue through the week. So far, police say, 29 people have died
as result of the disaster — from drowning, hypothermia, or electrocution.World
Vision has been distributing emergency supplies to thousands of affected
people since Friday evening, and expects to reach more than 7,300 by the end of
this week."While the flooding has
devastated all areas of the city, families in World
Vision project communities — the poorest of the poor — are among
the worst affected," said Trihadi Saptoadi, World Vision's Indonesia
national
director. "We will continue to focus our relief activities in these vulnerable
communities," he says.Most severely affected are the Cawang, Cipinang Melayu, Kebon Pala, and
Cilincing
project communities (also known as Area Development Programs, or
ADPs). Susukan ADP has suffered minor impact.
Aid to 7,300 Within Week
World Vision teams plan to distribute
food, non-food item, and medicines to
more than 7,300 people within the week, Nadapdap added."We will distribute the aid to flood victims in Cawang, Kebon Pala, Cipinang
Melayu, Cilincing, and
Susukan. The food project staff will also distribute aid
to their beneficiaries in severely flooded areas, such as in Cipinang Besar."Today [Monday], besides completing the distribution of the
remaining 170
family kits in Kebon Pala, we are distributing food packages to 2,050 families
in [the] Cawang area," he continued, adding that the food project team will
also complete its baby kit
distribution to 1,300 families early this week.Water levels remain high in some places in the city, as heavy downpours have
continued to fall throughout Greater Jakarta during the past few days, particularly south of the city. Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Office
reported the downpours would likely continue through February 7, and forecasted
higher than average rains for the next
two weeks.
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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
