Drought Affects 15,531 Residents Across Three Regencies in Gorontalo

The Gorontalo Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has recorded that 15,531 people from 6,100 households in three districts have been affected by drought and are experiencing a clean water crisis.

Head of Emergency and Logistics at BPBD Gorontalo, Hifny Tegela, said his office continues to intensify the distribution of clean water to affected areas to meet the basic needs of the community.

“Drought impact data continues to develop along with the results of field data collection. To date, 15,531 people and 6,100 households have been recorded as affected in three districts,” Hifny said in Gorontalo on Monday.

He said BPBD, together with district governments and other stakeholders, continues to distribute clean water in stages, prioritising villages experiencing a decline in water source discharge as well as areas with increasingly limited access to clean water.

In addition to clean water distribution, BPBD is also monitoring weather developments and drought potential together with relevant agencies. The monitoring results serve as the basis for determining handling priorities, while accelerating response if the affected area expands.

Hifny said drought management requires cross-sector collaboration, not only by BPBD but also by local governments, regional agencies, businesses, humanitarian organisations, and the community.

“Cross-sector collaboration is key so that services to the community can run optimally, especially in ensuring clean water needs remain met during the dry season,” he said.