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FROM THE FIELD

Jakarta suffers worst floods in 5 years

07 Feb 2007 10:00:00 GMT
Source: International Save the Children Alliance

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Aerial view of flooded residential area in east Jakarta Credit: Reuters/Supri. Aerial view of flooded residential area in east Jakarta Credit: Reuters/Supri
Reuters/Supri, Reuters/Supri

Save the Children is responding to the needs of children affected by severe flooding in Jakarta, which has forced nearly 300,000 people to be displaced and has killed at least 22 people.

Torrential rains in the Indonesian capital Jakarta and its surrounding areas have caused widespread flooding, which is the worst the city has seen for five years. The exceptionally heavy annual rains, which began late last week, have caused flood water levels to rise rapidly, reaching over four metres in some areas. Thousands of houses and public buildings, including 1,498 schools, have been affected. Telephone lines and electricity networks have been cut off in some parts of the city and floodwaters have blocked some major roads and paralysed the transport system.

Our team in Indonesia is working to reach the children and families most in need. Save the Children has sent urgently needed relief items to Jakarta from our warehouse in Yogyakarta. The supplies include 2,000 tarpaulins to help provide temporary shelter for children and their families, and around 450 kits containing basic household and hygiene supplies like pots and pans, soap and washing powder.

Save the Children is supporting its partner organisations in Jakarta, Yayasan Aulia and Yayasan Sanggar Anak Akar by providing supplies of food to keep community kitchens running in some of the worst affected areas of North and East Jakarta. Save the Children has procured 7,200 kilograms rice, 11,840 packets of noodles, 4,500 liters of drinking water and 464 liters of vegetable oil. These supplies will be distributed over the next two days.

Lies Winarti Kristia, Director of Yayasan Aulia, one of the partners who work with street children. said "the children are the most vulnerable in this situation we need to be sure they have shelter, food and clean water to ensure they can fight disease."

Save the Children is concerned that the flooding is likely to also increase the number of cases of dengue fever - which have already been high this year - along with cases of diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections, particularly in young children.

Pak Budi Rahardjo of Save the Children in Indonesia said: "Children suffer most in any emergency. Children have lost their homes, personal belongings and are vulnerable to water borne diseases. Save the Children launched a rapid response to the emergency and stands ready to scale up our operation if the situation worsens."

For further information

Key media contact:

Indonesian media enquiries - Patricia Norimarna 08121088705

International media enquiries - Jon Bugge + 62 8121088702 (Save the Children USA) or Rosaleen Cunningham +62 811984901 (Save the Children UK)

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Wed Feb 7 11:41:47 2007