Situbondo Regency Government Sets Up Communal Kitchen After Flash Floods

Situbondo (ANTARA) - The Situbondo Regency government, East Java, established a public kitchen in the aftermath of flash floods that swept away thousands of homes and public facilities, on Sunday. On Saturday night (7 March), river overflow floods occurred in six districts: Banyuglugur, with two villages affected: Kalianget and Banyuglugur villages. In Besuki District, five villages were affected: Kalianget, Besuki, Kalimas, Bloro and Pesisir. In Jatibanteng District, two villages affected: Jatibanteng and Wringin Anom. In Mlandingan District two villages: Selomukti and Sumberpinang, and one village in Bungatan District: Bungatan, and in Kendit District two villages: Klatakan and Kendit. ‘We established a public kitchen at the Besuki District Office, providing ready-to-eat meals for thousands of residents affected by the floods in Besuki and Banyuglugur Districts,’ said Acting Head of the Social Service, Viskanto Adi Prabowo, in Situbondo on Sunday. Viskanto said that ready-to-eat rice is greatly needed because all their utensils including stoves and cooking equipment were damaged and submerged in muddy water. ‘There is indeed rice assistance and ready meals, but what residents need at the moment are cooked meals, or packed rice (nasi bungkus),’ he said. Viskanto added that the Social Service will add one more public kitchen at the Banyuglugur District Office to meet the meals needs of affected residents. To date, the local BPBD continues to assess flood-damaged homes and damage to public facilities caused by the river flood in several districts.