LDP Team Reaches 44,434 Lives of Flood Victims

JAKARTA (January 14, 2020) - The Ministry of Social's Psychosocial Support Services (LDP) team reached 15 flood points with 44,434 survivors in DKI Jakarta, West Java and Banten. This was revealed by Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara before the House of Representatives Commission VIII (Tuesday, 14/1).

The LDP team consists of the Ministry of Social LDP Team and other volunteers. "They carried out LDP activities since the beginning of the incident which focused on initial protection efforts, assisted the Evacuation Team and public kitchens," said the Minister.

The LDP team is tasked with recovering the psychological condition of disaster victims ranging from children to elderly, various activities are carried out to provide comfort to the victims.

As is known floods hit several areas in DKI Jakarta, West Java and Banten, "Based on Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) data, rain during the new year's moment that struck most of North-West Java was so extreme that it caused massive floods that were evenly distributed in Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi, West Bandung, even Cikampek and Cipali. This rain is not normal rain, "said the Minister.

When disaster strikes, Juliari immediately instructs the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana) and the Disaster Preparedness Village (KSB) Team to collect victims' data, evacuate victims to safe places, especially to vulnerable groups consisting of the elderly, children, persons with disabilities, and other special groups.

The next step taken by the Ministry of Social Affairs is to distribute logistics to meet the basic needs of victims of natural disasters sourced from the Warehouses of Ministry of Social Assistance and DKI Jakarta Provinces, West Java and Banten.

To meet the basic needs of survivors, the MoSA immediately set up public kitchens at 24 points managed by Tagana and KSB.

Juliari also revealed that up to January 13, 2020 there were still 26,463 people who remained in refugee camps. "This is a downward trend. In DKI at least 248 people. West Java 21,109 inhabitants. Banten 5,106 people, "he said.

In addition, Juliari also mentioned that the data on damaged houses was 3,245 units. "1,607 houses were severely damaged, 89 units moderately damaged, 995 units slightly damaged," said Juliari.

The Work Meeting which discussed the handling of the disaster was also attended by the Head of National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo.

"Today, Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives held a meeting with the Minister of Social Affairs and the Head of BNPB with the agenda of discussing disaster management and other actual issues," explained Chair of Commission VIII Yandri Susanto.

Meanwhile, the Head of BNPB Doni Monardo, assessed that major floods that occurred in the Jabodetabek area in early 2020 in addition to high rainfall, also occurred due to damage to the upstream ecosystems, namely the Bogor and surrounding areas.

In front of reporters, the Minister said that Commission VIII appreciated the Ministry of Social Affairs and BNPB in providing a quick response to disasters especially floods and landslides in DKI Jakarta, Banten and West Java and other regions in Indonesia that occurred in early 2020.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs