Residents stick by riverbank despite floods<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Abdul Halim, a resident living on a banks of the Ciliwung river
\nin Kampung Melayu sub-district, East Jakarta was swept some three
\nkilometers downstream by floodwaters when huge floods hit the
\ncapital in 2002.<\/p>\n
\"I was discovered by residents among piles of garbage near the
\nManggarai flood gate (in South Jakarta). Thank God I am still
\nalive now,\" said Abdul, who claims to be 102 years old.<\/p>\n
His neighbors said that Abdul, whose wife and two children
\nlive in Serang, Banten, was swept away in floodwaters together
\nwith his simple hut made of scraps of plastic, plywood, wire,
\nplanks of wood and rope collected from the river and other areas.<\/p>\n
The 2002 floods affected nearly two-thirds of Jakarta's 650-
\nsquare kilometer territory, killing over 30 people, forcing
\nnearly 350,000 people to flee their homes and damaging a large
\npart of the city's infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Riverbank areas in Kampung Melayu are listed among places that
\nare frequently hit by floods in the city. This year alone, they
\nhave been hit by floods twice -- in February and March.<\/p>\n
The Ciliwung river, the source of which begins in the Puncak
\narea, Bogor regency, is the longest river in the city. Floods in
\nthe area are often caused by heavy rain in Bogor, with the
\nswelling river taking some eight hours to travel from Bogor to
\nKampung Melayu.<\/p>\n
Abdul, however, is not discouraged by his bitter experience.
\nJust days after the flood subsided, he immediately erected his
\nshanty on the riverbank again, this time even closer to the
\nriver.<\/p>\n
He also refused to return to his wife in Serang, Banten, where
\nhis two children also live.<\/p>\n
\"Why should I fear the flood. I will die when it is my time to
\ndie. God knows when I will die,\" said Abdul, who claimed that he
\njoined the country's fight for independence against the Dutch
\ncolonial rulers in the 1940s.<\/p>\n
Abdul collects and sells plastic sacks for a living. He
\ncollects plastic sacks mostly from the Kampung Melayu market and
\nseveral shops in the surrounding area.<\/p>\n
Abdul is only one of some 5,000 residents living along the
\nbanks of Ciliwung river in Kampung Melayu. Many of their
\nmakeshift houses even hang over the river, where they bathe,
\ndefecate, do their laundry and dump their garbage.<\/p>\n
Ajat, 43, another resident of the Ciliwung riverbank, said
\nthat people in the area have already learned to live with floods.<\/p>\n
\"Floods are not a big problem for us because eight hours
\nbefore the water comes, officials from the subdistrict office
\ninform us that floodwaters are coming. Then we prepare to
\nevacuate,\" he said, adding that many usually take their
\nbelongings to temporary shelters, while others keep them on the
\nsecond floor of their houses.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) has announced that
\nthe Greater Jakarta area is entering the rainy session. It means
\nthat residents of Kampung Melayu as well as other areas in the
\ncity should prepare for possible floods.<\/p>\n
East Jakarta Mayor Koesnan Abdul Halim confirmed the situation
\nin Kampung Melayu, saying that while residents in other areas
\nwere concerned about their fate, those living along the Ciliwung
\nriverbank were not really bothered by floods.<\/p>\n
\"Many of them often ignore warnings from members of the rescue
\nteam, who tell them to immediately leave their houses. Many of
\nthem stay on the roof of their houses when the flood comes,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"They are happy if the governor visits them and they begin
\nasking for many things from him,\" the mayor said, adding that for
\nmany people there, the floods are considered a blessing as it
\nmeans that they would get free food.<\/p>\n
Ajat, however, refuted the mayor's statement. According to
\nhim, people living on the riverbank have no other place to stay.
\nHe also said that many people choose to stay there as the area is
\nlocated close to their workplace and there is transportation
\navailable to almost every area in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"Many people prefer to live here although they must evacuate
\nat least twice a year,\" said Ajat, who runs a small kiosk in
\nfront of his simple house to earn a living.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/residents-stick-by-riverbank-despite-floods-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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