Drought and Clean Water Crisis Spreads Across West Java, Affecting 21 Regencies and Cities

The drought and clean water crisis in West Java is continuing to spread. The West Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reports that 21 regencies and cities are now affected. “The drought and clean water crisis have already impacted 294 villages and sub-districts across 133 sub-districts. The number of affected residents has reached 86,888 families or 313,302 individuals,” said West Java BPBD spokesperson Hadi Rahmat on Tuesday. Currently, BPBD units across West Java are distributing clean water aid to the affected areas. The total volume of clean water assistance sent to residents has reached 6,227,800 litres. Hadi added that Bogor Regency remains the worst-hit area. In this region, 111 villages across 29 sub-districts are experiencing the crisis. The number of residents suffering from the clean water shortage in Bogor Regency has reached 41,882 families or 140,532 individuals. Other severely affected areas include Tasikmalaya Regency and Bekasi Regency. “BPBD, together with related agencies, will continue to distribute clean water aid to the affected locations. We urge residents to keep conserving their existing water supplies,” Hadi added. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has stated that 98 percent of West Java has entered the dry season, with the peak of the drought predicted to occur between August and September.