Drought-stricken villagers sell belongings for water

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Villagers in drought-stricken areas across the regency of Gunung Kidul in Yogyakarta have begun to sell their belonging for water.

Sukinem, a resident of Banagung hamlet, Tileng village, said she had sold a goat to buy 5,000-liter tank of water. Sukinem said the water, which cost Rp 70,000 (US$8.40), would provide her family with water for a month.

"I had to sell the goat because I didn't have any money," she said.

She said she sold the goat for Rp 200,000, and would save the rest of the money to buy more water if the drought continued.

The prolonged drought has caused severe water shortages in Gunung Kidul, an area consisting mostly of a barren infertile mountain range.

Other villagers have sold household appliances, jewelry and food, mostly dried cassava, to raise money to buy water. Some villagers have bought water on credit because they have nothing to sell.

"We don't have any choice," said one villager, Poniyem, who has bought water on credit.

"We have been waiting for a supply of clean water from the government but it never comes, even though most of the people here are poor. I cannot understand why," Tukinem, the wife of the head of Banagung hamlet, said.

The drought in Gunung Kidul has hit at least 82 villages in 11 of 18 subdistricts, causing over 120,000 people from 31,000 families to suffer severe shortages of clean water. Over 2,000 people are suffering from diarrhea and respiratory problems as a result of the lack of clean water.

The 10 drought-hit subdistricts are Purwosari, Panggang, Saptosari, Paliyan, Tanjungsari, Tepus, Rongkop, Girisubo, Semanu and Ponjong.

Things are particularly bad in this area because most of the residents are poor people who traditionally rely on cassava crops.

The local government has complained about budgetary restrictions that prevent it from providing clean water to residents.

"Demand for free clean water is increasing. Yet, due to the budget constraints, we must prioritize the poorest families. Those who can afford to buy water should not depend on us," Sumarno, the assistant to the regency secretary overseeing development, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The drought has also forced some villagers to resort to bathing just once every several days.

"We'd rather use the water on our cattle, otherwise they will die from lack of water," Sukinem said.