Floods in Several Regions, Ministry of Social Affairs Sends Logistics Aid

JAKARTA (February 2, 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs is sending logistical aid and assessment teams to various regions in Indonesia affected by floods and landslides.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs' top priority in every disaster event is the social protection of disaster victims. For that reason, when flash floods occur in a number of areas, we immediately send basic necessities such as food, blankets, children and adult clothing, cleaning equipment, and assign Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana) and the assessment team to further record the needs of residents, "said Social Minister Juliari P. Batubara in Jakarta, Sunday.

Social Minister said floods hit a number of areas on Saturday (1/2) causing flash floods and residents were displaced. In Banten Province, heavy rains that have occurred since Saturday (1/2) caused flooding in three regions, namely Serang District, Tangerang District, and Tangerang City. In East Java, heavy rains caused three districts to be inundated, namely Jember District, Blitar District dan Bondowoso District.

Furthermore, floods also hit Banjar District, West Jakarta City, South Lampung District, Central Tapanuli District, Kaur District, Bandung District, and floods and landslides in Klaten District.

"The team from the Ministry of Social Affairs has coordinated with each of the social services agency in the affected cities and districts. The first is of course ensuring that the evacuation of residents has proceeded supported by teams from the The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), The Indonesian National Police (Polri), village officials and residents, " Juliari said.

Furthermore, mobilizing the Disaster Preparedness Cadet (Tagana) and the volunteers of Disaster Preparedness Village (KSB) together with the Social Affairs Agencies prepared the evacuation site, set up a field public kitchen to meet the residents needs of eating and drinking, and conduct assessments of what they needs.

"Aid has also been distributed from the Ministry of Social Affairs logistics warehouse to the social service agencies to arrange its distribution with Tagana's colleagues and the KSB and other volunteers," he explained.

Aid Distribution

To ensure the distribution process went well and was conveyed to the residents, Juliari along with Director General of Social Security Protection Harry Hikmat visiting Serang District, Tangerang City and Tangerang District, Banten Province by delivering logistics assistance in the three locations for a total value Rp. 330,918,458

"The area of ​​Serang District is one that is badly affected, especially in Bumi Ciruas Permai Housing (BCT)," Harry said.

Flooding in Serang District has occurred since Saturday (1/2) and inundated 15 villages in six sub-districts. A total of 670 people in Bumi Ciruas Permai Housing were affected. 450 of them were displaced.

"Until Sunday afternoon, some residents stay still because they can meet basic needs, but those whose houses are submerged up to 1.5 meters have been evacuated. The TNI and Polri team, village apparatus, urban village, residents swiftly evacuated, "explained Harry.

During this visit the Director General handed over Social Aid to Serang District totaling Rp105,260,270. Logistics assistance in the form of fast food, children's food, side dishes, instant noodles, family equipment, children's equipment, blankets, clothing packages, mattresses and rolling tents.

In addition to delivering aid, the Director General also visits public kitchens to monitor and ensure the management has been running effectively.

"Field public kitchens have also been operated coordinated by Tagana. This morning, they’ve prepared 4000 rice packs, they also cooked for lunch and dinner," said Harry, who also wrapped rice with the mothers.

He saw that in handling this disaster the coordination of various parties was very good and responsive. "The citizens' concern is very good. Mothers join in cooking, wrapping, distributing food with other residents. Tagana, volunteers, TNI, Polri went down together. Hopefully this can alleviate the suffering of residents, "he said.

Harry and his entourage then continued to review the location of the disaster in Muara Village, Teluk Naga Sub-District, Tangerang District and the Public Kitchen located in the Periuk Sub-District Office, Tangerang City.

Before visiting Banten, Harry reviewed the Ministry of Social Main Post at the Cawang Kencana Building, East Jakarta, to ensure adequate logistics and the Ministry of Social Affairs team had worked quickly and responsively.

Aid Distribution

Furthermore, as directed by the Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara, the Ministry of Social Affairs sent logistics to various areas affected by floods and landslides.

Assistance for the West Jakarta in the form of towels, blankets, mattresses, children's food, ready meals and mineral water. Logistics for the South Lampung District in the form of blankets, family equipment, mattresses, and family tents. Logistics for Jember District consists of roll tents, children's equipment, eating utensils, instant noodles, blankets, children's food, food packages, ready-to-eat food, cleaning tools such as broom sticks and mattresses.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also sent logistical support to Blitar District in the form of tent rolls, family equipment, food equipment, blankets, instant noodles, and fast food. In Bondowoso District, logistical support was sent in the form of roll tents, food equipment, mattresses, multipurpose tents, family kitchen equipment, instant noodles and children's food.

Klaten District which experienced floods and landslides also became the Ministry of Social Affairs attention. Two embankments of broken-down rivers and Tagana have been demoted to conduct an assessment with the Social Affairs Agencies. Next, we will collaborate with flood management in Tegalrejo Village, Bayat Sub-District to clean up the trunks of trees that block the river flow.

Then the Ministry of Social Affairs distributed logistical assistance, collected data and verified heirs for the compensation in response to flash floods in Barus and Andam Dewi Sub-Districts, Central Tapanuli Districts (1/28). A total of 9 people died and dozens of houses were heavily and moderately damaged. Logistics distribution for Central Tapanuli Districts consists of eating equipment, children's equipment, family equipment, roll tents, mattresses, side dishes, children's food, instant noodles, kitchen equipment, and velbed.

For Kaur District, the Ministry of Social Affairs has also mobilized a team to collect data and verify the victims who died in the floods that occurred on Sunday (1/19). As many as 10 people died in the floods that hit Manau Sembilan II Village, Padang Guci Hulu Sub-District, Kaur District, Bengkulu.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs