Evicted squatters brace for rainy season
Evicted squatters brace for rainy season
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
First the eviction, now the rainy season. These are the
challenges faced by families now living in makeshift tents where
their homes used to stand, before they were torn down by public
order officers.
Rahmo, one of about 10,000 residents evicted from a 5.5-
hectare plot of land owned by PT Cakra Wira Bumi Mandala in
Jembatan Besi, West Jakarta, in late August, said because he and
his family were not supposed to be on the land, he had to put up
a crude tent at dusk and dismantle it at dawn.
His wife, Sari, nursing their three-month-old daughter, said
that when it rained they had to huddle together beneath a plastic
sheet.
Even though times are hard, the family still thanks God that
they are all healthy and safe.
"Alhamdullilah (thank God), we and the baby are healthy," said
Rahmo, a scavenger.
Rahmo said that after his family was evicted, they did not
receive any medical attention or aid of any kind.
"If we get sick, we can go to the nearest public health center
and pay to be seen by a doctor," he said.
Rahmo, Sari and their daughter are not the only family living
where their houses used to stand. Six other families are also
living there in makeshift tents.
The families get water from leaking water pipes. They have
built a crude toilet hidden from view.
Much the same is happening on 15 hectares of land in Tanjung
Duren Selatan subdistrict, West Jakarta, next to Mal Taman
Anggrek.
Dozens of families who were evicted from the land on Oct. 2
have built makeshift tents next to an abandoned building. When it
rains they sneak into the building for shelter.
Most of the people here are suffering from respiratory
diseases, rashes and diarrhea. They have not received medical aid
but on Friday the Indonesian Red Cross gave them instant noodles
and milk.
Some of them said they could not sleep at night.
"I have headaches all the time," Dina Siregar told The Jakarta
Post as the rain began to fall.