Food Aid Limited

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

An elderly citizen is being carried across an emergency bridge over the Cidurian River in Kampung Ciasahan, Sukamaju village, Cigudeg, Bogor regency, West Java, on Monday (6/1/2020). The emergency bridge made of bamboo by locals is the only access for them to get out of their area to reach nearby villages. The main bridge of this village was washed away by flash floods caused by landslides on Wednesday (1/1/2020). Although access to this location is quite easy, the government has not yet assumed responsibility over the emergency bridge.06-01-2020

BOGOR, KOMPAS — Disaster mitigation personnel and volunteers worked hard to distribute aid to landslide survivors in Bogor regency, West Java, and Lebak regency, Banten, on Monday (6/1/2020). A number of evacuation shelters are hard to reach despite continuous efforts to open access to them.

As of Monday at 7 p.m., volunteers continued to distribute aid to survivors in landslide-affected areas in Bogor regency, including Sukajaya, Nanggung and Cigudeg districts.

In Harkatjaya village, Sukajaya district, a joint team opened access to a road that had previously been buried by soil. The road facilitated logistics distribution despite the slippery road only being wide enough for one car.

Survivors have received plenty of clothes. Meanwhile, food and lighting equipment, including candles and portable generators, are limited at temporary shelters.

Harkatjaya resident Indra, 36, explained food aid remained inadequate, especially for mothers and children. Furthermore, many people from outside Harkatjaya village came by to find food. “Many villages have remained isolated so that people from those villages [Urug and Kiarapandak villages in Sukajaya district] come here to find staple needs, despite us having a shortage of them,” he said.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The condition of Kampung Harkat Jaya, Sukajaya, Bogor regency, West Java, is pictured after flash floods triggered by landslides hit the area on Monday (6/1/2020). A number of other villages in the Sukajaya region still cannot be accessed as the landslides cut off roads to a number of points. Thus far, efforts have been made to open the damaged roads and many residents in areas affected by the landslides are still accommodated in evacuation centers.

Kompas found that Kiarapandak and Urug villages could only be accessed by foot. West Java Search and Rescue Agency head Deden Ridwansyah said that the agency was continuing its effort to evacuate landslide-affected locals. “Our focus is to find three victims still buried in Harkatjaya village,” he said.

Bogor Regency Disaster Mitigation Agency’s (BPBD) prevention and mitigation division head Dede Armansyah said that aid to six isolated villages had been brought to nearby villages. However, the BPBD could not distribute the aid as the access road was still buried.

“The supplies are near the isolated villages. The moment access is reopened, we will send the supplies by vehicles,” Dede said.

As of Monday, logistics distribution still relies on helicopter.

As of Monday, logistics distribution still relies on helicopter. However, distribution by air was also hampered by the helicopters’ limited capacity and weather conditions.

“Today, the BPBD will send 600 kilograms of staple needs to Cisarua village by helicopter but we are still waiting for good weather. At the same time, one helicopter will depart from Atang Sanjaya military airbase to Pasir Madang village with 700 kilograms of staple needs,” Dede said.

KOMPAS/Istimewa

Garbage from the floods piles up on half of the Mookervart River inspection road in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, on Monday (6/1/2020). The garbage was piled there by residents after they cleaned up their flooded homes.

By land and air

In Lebak, Banten, the local BPBD acting head Kaprawi said that isolated areas would be accessed by air with a helicopter and also by land. Evacuation and volunteer teams will have to walk and cross rivers as many parts of the access road are either collapsed or heavily damaged.

“[Access] has improved. Our personnel continue to try to access [isolated areas] but they must be careful as there is still a water current from the cliffs that may create landslides. The river’s current is also quite strong, which requires extra safety measures,” Kaprawi said.

Access to isolated areas are currently available in Lebaksitu and Cigobang villages in Lebakgedong. Lebak has declared a state of emergency for the January 1 to 14 period.

Lebak Education Agency data showed that three state elementary schools, namely SDN 1 and SDN 2 in Banjar Irigasi and SDN 4 in Lebakgedong, were swept away by flooding and landslide materials. Meanwhile, 19 other schools sustained heavy damages.

Lebak Regent Iti Octavia Jayabaya said that learning activities in these schools would be put on hold for two weeks while the government prepared emergency schools.

KOMPAS/Istimewa

Garbage from the floods piles up on half of the Mookervart River inspection road in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, on Monday (6/1/2020). The garbage was piled there by residents after they cleaned up their flooded homes.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Agus Wibowo said that locals were urged to proactively take aid available at the nearest posts. “We urge strong locals to take supplies at the nearest posts. Do not wait up. Please be proactive as we have limited personnel,” he said.

As of Monday at 5 p.m., 67 were killed in the floods and landslides that hit Greater Jakarta and Lebak since Jan. 1.

Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim said that a survey to check on the condition of schools should be done immediately to ensure that the buildings would be safe and adequate to host learning activities. The survey would involve the BNPB and regional governments.  (GIO/VAN/IRE/HLN/JOG/BOW/DAN/HRS/DNE)