Floods to affect 1.5m, city on high alert

Floods to affect 1.5m, city on high alert

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As millions of people living in the capital are at great risk
of suffering due to floods during the rainy season, the Jakarta
administration is now on high alert about a possible outbreak of
diarrhea.

The city social agency predicted that the floods in January
and February this year would affect 1.5 million people, or nearly
400,000 families in 106 subdistricts throughout the city.

Head of the City Health Agency, A. Cholik Masulili, said the
Siaga I (first alert) status had been imposed in the city to
anticipate the possible diarrhea outbreak.

"All public health centers in 280 centers in 43 districts
throughout the city must be on alert for 24 hours. Four to five
doctors must be prepared in each center," said Cholik as quoted
by Antara.

He said his office would also set up health posts in all
temporary shelters for flood victims and promised to provide the
victims with free medical services.

Meanwhile the social agency claimed that it was ready with a
contingency plan to help flood victims by preparing evacuation,
shelters and food in flood-prone areas.

The Head of the social aid section, Nandi Tjaspandi told The
Jakarta Post that the city administration had been preparing
various equipment and other goods to anticipate the worst
possibilities, including evacuating people whose houses may be
inundated, setting up temporary shelters and public kitchens.

Even though the social agency predicted that 1.5 million could
be adversely affected by floods, it seems that the supply of
emergency items is far from enough. Besides the food, which
consists of 42 tons of rice and other items, the agency has only
prepared 1,400 sleeping mats, 50 school uniforms, and 1,200
blankets.

As a matter of fact, not all flood victims will be eligible to
receive assistance.

The assistance will only be available for flood victims who
are unable to conduct normal activities due to the inundation of
their homes for more than 24 hours at a depth of more than 60
centimeters.

Each day the victims will receive packages of meals consisting
of 400 grams of rice and side dishes worth Rp 1,500 each.

If someone is killed in the flood, the family would receive Rp
250,000.

Data from the agency showed that they had prepared 42 tons of
rice, 50 boxes of baby milk powder, 500 boxes of instant noodles,
1,350 small bottles of soybean sauce, 50 kilograms of dried fish
and 100 liters of cooking oil.

According to Tjaspandi, his office had given five tons of rice
to five mayoralties and would be ready to supply more food if
needed as there is still more in stock.

Tjaspandi said each subdistrict had decided the location for a
temporary shelter for flood victims. The locations include school
buildings, subdistrict offices, other buildings and open spaces
with tents.

Each district has also set up a 10-member task force ready to
be deployed to areas affected. They would join the 400-member
task force prepared by the city administration.

Previously, Governor Sutiyoso said he had received a
commitment from the military that it would also deploy its
personnel to help possible flood victims.

Tjaspandi said boats were also being readied for flood victim
evacuations by the Indonesian Red Cross, the fire brigades, the
Public Works Agency, Army and Marines.