Residents still ready for floods<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Rain started to fall in some areas of Jakarta on Monday after two
\ndays of sunshine, forcing residents in flood-prone areas to
\nprepare themselves for possible inundation. However, most relief
\nprogram were no longer available, as many people had already
\nreturned home.<\/p>\n
In Kampung Melayu subdistrict, East Jakarta, residents have
\nyet to return the belongings they moved to the attic in their
\nhouses, although they had already returned home on Saturday.
\nOverflowing water from the nearby Ciliwung River was 270
\ncentimeters deep, submerging over 2,000 homes in the area last
\nweek.<\/p>\n
A rope that was used to guide people during the evacuation
\nprocess remained tightly strung from one house to another.<\/p>\n
"Water did not recede as quickly as before. You can see the
\nwater level in the river is very close to our homes. We have been
\ntold that we must be alert, as it is raining in Depok and Bogor,"
\nDedi, a resident, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Both Depok and Bogor, to the south of the capital, have been
\nblamed by Jakartans for the floods that inundated the city. Rapid
\ndevelopment of houses and villas in the Puncak mountain resort,
\nBogor and Depok has reduced water catchments. A similar situation
\ncan be seen in Jakarta, where many buildings have been
\nconstructed, reducing the amount of open space.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency warned earlier that more
\nrain would fall until the middle of next month.<\/p>\n
The withdrawal of aid in the middle of a period of possible
\nflooding has saddened many. Temporary shelters and public
\nkitchens, previously set up at St. Maria Church and Hermina
\nHospital, were no longer there on Monday. The city administration
\nhad already pulled out its medical team that had treated
\nthousands of evacuees.<\/p>\n
"There are no more relief programs, although we are still in
\ndire need of them. Even rubber dinghies for evacuation have
\nalready been withdrawn," said another resident, Sadli.<\/p>\n
In Petamburan subdistrict, Central Jakarta, residents did not
\ntry to clean their homes as they also expected more flooding.
\nOverflowing water from the Cideng River inundated homes in three
\ncommunity units last week.<\/p>\n
On the issue of assistance, spokesman of the Indonesian Navy
\nMarine Corps Rear Admiral I Ketut Suarya said that flood victims
\nhad yet to make use of relief programs provided by the Navy.<\/p>\n
"We didn't make a public announcement about the relief program
\nbut have made ready a number of boats and personnel. They are
\ndeployed especially to help flood victims," he said, as quoted by
\nAntara news agency.<\/p>\n
Suarya said that the Navy had given information to some flood
\ncrisis centers in the capital since the end of last year on its
\nrelief programs.<\/p>\n
"We rarely get calls for help from flood victims," he said.<\/p>\n
Currently, 70 Navy personnel and 15 boats were standing by to
\nanticipate possible inundation, he said.<\/p>\n
Flood victims are welcome to contact the Navy's flood crisis
\ncenter on 7805008.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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