Residents Scramble for Clean Water Aid Amid Drought in Cirebon

Residents of Harjamukti in Cirebon City, West Java, scrambled for clean water aid delivered in response to the drought affecting the northern coastal (Pantura) region of Java.

Quoting a CNNIndonesia TV broadcast, hundreds of residents were seen swarming vehicles carrying clean water in Kampung Kedung Krisik, Argasunya Village, Harjamukti District.

At least two clean water tanks were brought by the Cirebon City Police team.

“We are distributing around 10,000 litres, and so far we have brought two tanks; we will continue to distribute it every week,” said Cirebon City Police Chief AKBP Bimantoro Kurniawan, as broadcast by CNNIndonesia TV on Tuesday (8/9).

The arrival of the clean water aid vehicles was eagerly awaited by residents. Since the dry season struck over the past month, clean water has become difficult to obtain.

According to residents’ reports, many wells have dried up and no longer produce water. As a result, many residents have been forced to go to relatives’ homes in other villages to meet their clean water needs.

“For cooking, washing and bathing — since the dry season started, there has been no water,” said Zaharoh, a resident of Kampung Kedung Krisik.

Quoting Antara, the distribution of clean water aid in Cirebon City has in fact been carried out since June 2026 and continues to this day.

“We are coordinating the involvement of a number of agencies so that residents’ needs can be served in rotation and in a coordinated manner,” said Arief Adithya Firmansyah, Head of the Emergency and Logistics Section at the Cirebon City Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

Meanwhile, based on monitoring of the Instagram account @bpbdkotacirebon, Argasunya Village is one of the villages vulnerable to drought among 22 others in the so-called Prawn City.

As of 3 September, BPBD Cirebon City had distributed 208,000 litres of water to residents affected by drought in Argasunya Village. According to BPBD, the clean water aid has reached 1,203 families, or around 3,929 individuals, in Argasunya Village.

However, this figure remains dynamic as it follows conditions and situations on the ground. Arief said data on the number of residents affected by the drought is still being monitored.

Arief also said the Cirebon City Government has declared an Emergency Preparedness Status for Drought and Forest and Land Fires for 2026 from 1 July to 30 September 2026 through Cirebon Mayoral Decree Number 179 of 2026.