Drought-Affected Villages in Cilacap Rise to Four as Dry Season Intensifies

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Cilacap Regency, Central Java, has reported an increase in the number of villages affected by drought after receiving requests for clean water assistance from two additional villages during the 2026 dry season. “The increase in drought-affected areas was identified from the clean water assistance request letters we received, namely from Cimrutu Village, Patimuan District, and Cinangsi Village, Gandrungmangu District,” said Taryo, Chief Executive of BPBD Cilacap, on Monday. He stated that according to the request letter from the Cimrutu Village Government, the drought has hit Cimrutu, Ciputri, and Kalenwedi hamlets. The letter indicated that 320 families, or approximately 3,926 residents, are affected by a shortage of clean water, prompting the Cimrutu Village Government to request clean water distribution assistance from BPBD Cilacap. Meanwhile, the Cinangsi Village Government has also submitted a request for clean water aid for residents experiencing difficulties in obtaining water supply during the dry season. The affected areas in Cinangsi Village include East Cinangsi, Cibriluk, West Cinangsi, and Damajaya hamlets, with the number of affected residents reaching 830 families or around 3,194 people. “We will immediately follow up on these request letters by conducting location checks or assessments by a team from BPBD Cilacap,” he said. He noted that with these two request letters, the number of drought-affected areas in Cilacap has increased to four villages. Previously, BPBD Cilacap had distributed clean water aid to drought-affected residents in Kedungbenda Village, Nusawungu District, and Karangkemiri Village, Jeruklegi District. He said BPBD will continue to monitor the development of drought conditions across various areas of Cilacap Regency as the intensity of the dry season increases. In addition to preparing clean water distribution for areas in need, the agency is also urging the public to use water wisely and practice conservation to anticipate the potential for more widespread drought. “Coordination with village and district governments, as well as relevant agencies, is continuously carried out so that the handling of drought impacts can proceed quickly and be well-targeted,” Taryo said.