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)