Authorities collect Rp 650 million for flood victims
Authorities collect Rp 650 million for flood victims
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has collected Rp 650 million (US$302,325) in public donations for the victims of last week's flood, according to a deputy governor.
However R.S. Museno, deputy governor for social welfare, said yesterday the amount is inadequate to cover the total loss of Rp 39.54 billion.
He explained that the money will be distributed to the needy families based on the mayoralty offices' requests.
"The money is now deposited at the city-owned Bank DKI on Jl. Merdeka Selatan. Those who want to donate can transfer money directly to bank account No. 01.0400-91272," Museno said.
The city administration has so far distributed Rp 350 million from the 1995/1996 budget, he said.
Museno said that city administration can not build accommodation for the families whose houses were washed away by the floods. "Flooding is a natural disaster and the city administration is not responsible for natural disasters. Anyway the administration lacks sufficient funds for that," he said.
The floods, which were said to be the worst in 20 years, killed 10 people, devastated five mayoralties and inflicted a total of Rp 39.54 billion in material losses. They washed away 200 houses and destroyed at least 200 other buildings.
Museno also said yesterday that the city administration, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works, is repairing and strengthening a total of 2,500 meters of riverbank along the Ciliwung river in five mayoralties.
The total cost of the project is Rp 1.4 billion, Rp 600 billion of which is from the city administration and the remaining Rp 800 million is from the Ministry of Public Works, he said.
Surjadi
On a related matter, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has warned his subordinates not to embezzle donations meant for flood victims. He said he will take tough action against anyone caught taking the money.
The governor said early last week that all mayors should supervise the money and make sure that all donations, either material or financial, are delivered to the victims.
"I warn you not to act corruptly with the donations. I will not condone such behavior. Don't take advantage of other people's misery," Surjadi said.
He said he had heard that donations for natural disaster victims in other areas were stolen. "I don't want that to happen in Jakarta."
He suggested that donors send their money to the bank, instead of handing it over to mayoralty officials.
The Jakarta floods have drawn serious attention from the government. President Soeharto and several ministers visited the flood-hit areas on Jan. 7.
The Ministry of Public Works has been working on programs to anticipate future floods. Meetings with the National Development Planning Board are already underway.
Residents have said improper management of the environment was the main cause of the floods, while Surjadi said two factors might have caused this year's flood: constant torrential rains and the poor condition of city's river banks.
He also blames riverbanks squatters for damaging the environment which led to, among other things, the floods. He is therefore intending to evict all riverbank squatters. (yns)