C. Java flood victims lack food, medicines
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Banyumas
"Pak (Dad) ... I'm starving, give me something to eat," five- year-old Darno whimpered.
Raising his voice, Darno repeated his request several times, but his father, Kartanom, remained silent. Kastiyem, Darno's mother, embraced him and pulled him onto her lap.
"We just ate a piece of boiled sweet potato (ubi) each. We have nothing to eat, nothing to cook. Our rice stock and all our belongings have been swept away by the flood," Kartanom, 45, said.
"The children have only eaten boiled sweet potato since morning. We are ashamed to ask other people for money or food," he said pointing to his three children. Darno is the second child, the smallest is an 18-month-old boy.
Kastiyem, 40, just wept, embracing Darno with her right hand while breastfeeding Darno's younger brother.
Kartanom said he was very upset. "What should or can I do? No money to buy something to eat. Asking neighbors to help is impossible as most of them have a similar story."
Kartanom, Kastiyem and their three children have been spending their days on a wooden bed. The bed is propped up in such a way that it is 20 centimeters higher than the water level which reaches more than 50 centimeters.
Their family is one out of 100 families in the village of Sikampuh who refused to seek refuge, arguing that by staying at home they could do more for their families.
At least 1,500 houses in the village of Sikampuh, in the Kroya district of Cilacap regency, have been engulfed by floodwaters since Tuesday.
The floods have hit more than 20 districts in the regencies of Cilacap, Banyumas and Kebumen, which are located in the southern plane of Central Java.
Despite aid contributions from various institutions and individuals, Kartanom and his neighbors have still not received anything.
"We have not received anything from the village, regency or provincial administrations," said Wagiman, 45, another flood victim.
The administration has also failed to open an emergency post for flood victims in the village, despite the number of houses flooded.
Cilacap regency spokesman Aris Riyanto said on Thursday he had no idea whether the Sikampuh flood victims, who refused to seek refuge, had received any aid.
"What I know is that the governor has given 10 tons of rice, which will be distributed to the flood victims. The distribution is time-consuming,"
Flood victims in the districts of Sumpiuh and Tambak in the neighboring regency of Banyumas also have heart-breaking story.
They are all displaced and being temporarily accommodated in village halls with very limited food or clothing.
"We need blankets. Many of us sleep with a piece of newspaper as a mattress. We get meals (from the village head's office) irregularly. The amount of the food also varies," said Wardiyo, one of the flood victims at the Tambak village hall camp.
The flood victims have to line up for their daily meals. There are times when they have to jostle, vying for a meal due to the very limited food made available by the regency and village administrations.
"We have had to use the floodwater to bathe," Wardiyo added. Some people have been experiencing skin problems.
"They are in a bad condition, lacking food, medicine and clothing," said Suyatno, coordinator of the regency's natural disaster task force.
Suyatno confirmed that the governor had donated Rp 100 million in cash and 10 tons of rice. "But the most effective method of distribution is still being discussed."
"The regency has also donated Rp 400 million, which has been allocated from the rest of the social safety net fund," he said.
"The current expenses for the flood-affected families are taken from the regency's emergency fund."