Lamongan District Government Distributes 54 Tonnes of Rice and 9,700 Food Aid Packages to Flood-Affected Residents

The Lamongan District Government in East Java has continued to distribute food aid totalling 54 tonnes of rice and 9,700 food aid packages to residents in five sub-districts affected by flooding.

In the second phase of distribution, 32 tonnes of rice and 4,850 food aid packages were symbolically handed over to affected residents on Thursday, 12 March. Regent Yuhronur Efendi presented the rice and food aid in Ngujungrejo Village, Turi Sub-district. The Regent appreciated the initiative and community self-help efforts of Ngunjungrejo residents in assisting the government manage the floods.

Local residents constructed barriers from sandbags and mobilised 11 diesel pumps for water drainage. “We continue to make efforts. Indeed, this year the weather has been extreme and unpredictable, with severe rain and heat. BMKG predicted that the dry season would arrive earlier and last longer,” the Regent said.

He explained that this year’s rainfall has increased 300 per cent from normal levels, compounded by overflows from the Gondang, Pridjetan, Karangnongko and Wonogiri reservoirs, causing water to flow downstream along the Solo River in Lamongan. “Ultimately, water from upstream accumulates here all. The Bengawan Jero cannot drain because sea levels are higher than the Bengawan Jero,” he clarified.

The Regent also disclosed that the District Government continues efforts to rapidly discharge water from Kuro and Melik sluices. “At Kuro there are 17 pumps. I recently consulted with BMKG to request weather engineering, hoping for cloud-seeding operations until the holiday period to break the clouds. Thank you very much for your efforts and prayers. What is important now is for the government to think about how to meet all your needs while working to ensure this flooding recedes quickly,” he added.

In addition to food aid, Regent Efendi also provided three water pump units and several sandbags. Deputy Regent Dirham Akbar Aksara distributed aid in Gempolpendowo Village, Glagah, whilst District Secretary Moh. Nalikan handed over assistance in Putatbangah Village, Karangbinangun.

To date, the Lamongan District Government has distributed 54 tonnes of rice and 9,700 food aid packages to flood-affected residents. A total of 22 tonnes of rice and 4,850 packages were distributed in the first phase. The current 32 tonnes of rice and 4,850 packages are being distributed across five affected sub-districts: Kalitengah, Turi, Deket, Glagah and Karangbinangun.