Flood evacuees need food and medicine
Flood evacuees need food and medicine
JAKARTA (JP): After at least three days living in evacuation sites, the families whose homes were hit by the floods are now facing contagious diseases like diarrhea and skin problems.
A floodwatch guard in Jatinegara, M. Nasir, said some children in Kampung Melayu and Jatinegara, evacuation sites have been suffering from diarrhea, while some other got skin problems.
The authorities have provided flood victims with mobile medical services, but too many people need treatment.
Thousands of evacuees are now staying at the Santa Maria Fatima school, the SMP 25, a state-owned junior high school and at a foundation office.
Nasir told Antara that only 192 people were treated by the medical team yesterday. "This means the people need more paramedics and medicine."
The vice director of the Cipto Mangunkusumo, Hermansyur, said that medicine has been sent to the evacuees. Without revealing the detailed supply of medicine, he said that the Ministry of Health is cooperating with the local health centers in distributing medicine for the flood victims.
Residents of several areas, however, said that they had not received any donations yet.
Suheri, 29, a resident of Kramat Jati sub district, East Jakarta told The Jakarta Post that there was no aid from the local authorities for his neighborhood.
No rescue team
"There was no rescue team to help us when floods inundated our houses," he said.
He said that his family and other residents had been staying at a mosque nearby since Saturday. The families are staying there for now since their houses are still wet and dirty.
Some residents were asking motorists passing through Jl. Kalibata for charity.
Indah, 36, a mother of four children said that her house was destroyed and her belongings were washed away by floods. School uniforms and books of her children were also washed away.
Her husband could not go to work and her children could not go to school since the floods washed away their belongings.
She said that she did not have any idea whether her children could go to school soon.
"We need donations and an evacuation site for my children," she said, adding that she was afraid that the children might become infected with some disease.
Some residents have complained about shortage of food. Iis, a housewife in Jatinegara, said she did not know why the government did not give her family food. "We have run out of money and food," she said yesterday.
The administration has apparently been late in providing communal kitchens to help the evacuees with food.
Ida, a housewife living in Kampung Melayu, said she had no idea why a communal kitchen had yet to be opened.
Another resident of Kalibata sub district, South Jakarta also said that there had been no aid to her neighborhood, nor was there a communal kitchen.
Meanwhile, 13 tons of rices for the flood victims have been handed over to the city administration, Minister for Social Affairs Inten Soeweno said.
"Another five tons will be distributed soon," she said, adding that the Jakarta office of Ministry of Social Affairs still has 100 tons of rice for emergency purposes.
Ministers' visit
Inten and Coordinating Minister of Public Welfare Azwar Anas, accompanied by the deputy governor for public welfare, Museno, visited the flood-hit districts yesterday.
Azwar Anas said he wanted the aid to be distributed properly to the flood victims. "Therefore, we want accurate records on the number of flood victims and the number of buildings destroyed by the floods," he said.
Irawati, a resident of Manggarai sub district, South Jakarta said that her neighborhood received 300 kg of rice and several boxes of noodle and eggs from the city social agency.
The food was used to feed the residents over three days, she said.
In a related development, members of the House of Representatives called on conglomerates to show they care about the flood victims.
Urai Feisal said that the conglomerates should show their solidarity and help those affected by the floods, he said yesterday.
"The rich people could also share their ideas about flood control," he was quoted by Antara as saying. (team)