Volunteers bail out those stranded<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Sometimes sincerity is just not enough to help others.
\nVolunteers wanting to help flood victims throughout Jakarta have
\nhad to face intimidation from thugs taking advantage of
\ncatastrophe.<\/p>\n
\"Many people, such as hoodlums, took advantage of people's
\nmisery. Several of them tried to threaten us when we were about
\nto evacuate the flood victims in Teluk Gong, North Jakarta,\" said
\nLody Korua of PT Lintas Jeram Nusantara, the operator of Arus
\nLiar white-water rafting at Citarik River in Sukabumi, West Java.<\/p>\n
\"The locals stopped us. They were afraid we would reduce their
\nearnings as they were also operating boats, made of drums, and
\ncharging passengers money. The worse is they had the audacity to
\nseize our food donations by force,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We've been escorted by the marines for the past three days to
\navoid further intimidation during evacuations.\"<\/p>\n
Lody came all the way from Sukabumi, a four-hour drive south
\nof Jakarta, last week. Coming with the sincere intention of
\nhelping evacuate flood victims, he has deployed 20 rubber
\ndinghies and 30 rowers for evacuations.<\/p>\n
However, flood victims can be ungrateful sometimes, rudely
\ninsisting on taking control of the dinghy to save their
\nbelongings, such as TVs.<\/p>\n
Each boat has five crew comprising three volunteers and two
\nmarines.<\/p>\n
Helping victims has given Lody a deep sense of satisfaction.<\/p>\n
\"One night, we managed to evacuate 70 people in West
\nJatinegara, East Jakarta. They were children, women and the
\nelderly trapped in a two-story mosque. They were wet and cold,\"
\nsaid Lody, whose rescue team prioritized the poor and the sick.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, due to space constraints, the volunteers
\nsometimes had to leave stranded people behind.<\/p>\n
\"Once, I had to abandon a mother carrying a child on the
\nsecond story of a house because we already had 20 evacuees in the
\ndinghy. If I had taken them in, I would have jeopardized the
\nothers. We tried to go back, but the current was very strong. We
\nwere afraid we would be swept away by the flood,\" Lody said,
\nadding that each dinghy is supposed to carry only eight.<\/p>\n
Currently, the Arus Liar volunteers have a coordination post
\non Jl. Kalibata, South Jakarta. The volunteers have been on
\nstandby 24 hours, ready to evacuate people in isolated areas.<\/p>\n
Many donors have helped Arus Liar continue operation.<\/p>\n
Other organizations -- including the Indonesian Red Cross,
\nuniversity bodies in Jakarta, outdoor activity clubs, political
\nparties and locals -- have also set up tents along the street.
\nSome students collected donations from motorists at tollgates.<\/p>\n
These organizations have also tried to distribute packed meals
\nto flood victims throughout the city as the need for food,
\nmedicine and medical workers is broadcast often on several radio
\nand TV stations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/volunteers-bail-out-those-stranded-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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