Java landslides and floods

At least 112 people have lost their lives in landslides and floods triggered by heavy rains that struck Indonesia’s main island of Java over the last week.  More than 129,000 people were affected in Central and East Java.

Close to 60,000 displaced people are occupying temporary shelters provided by the local government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), while others have been forced to stay near their devastated homes because their villages were cut off by the flood waters. Rescue workers continue to search for missing persons who may still be buried under the thick mud following the landslides.

While waters have started to subside in several areas and people have begun returning home to start rebuilding, additional flood waters have submerged thousands of homes in the East Java districts of Tuban and Gresik as the Bengawan Solo River has overflowed its banks.

Electricity is also not available in most areas and clean water is scarce, despite government provision of several water tanks. There are minimal public latrines available. Assistance in villages is mostly in the form of food aid, but other needs such as blankets, tarps, clothing and water still remain.

Members of the ACT forum in Indonesia, Church World Service (CWS) Indonesia, Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) and Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Indonesia (YTBI), have been responding with emergency relief in the most severely affected areas since December 26, 2007.

Karanganyar:  Seven districts were seriously affected in Karanganyar and based on needs identified during the assessment, CWS delivered immediate emergency relief on December 27, 2007 in the Mogol sub-hamlet. Emergency relief consisted of 250 sleeping mats, 250 blankets, 50 boxes of mineral water and 100 baby kits. In addition to the relief items distributed, CWS also worked together with YEU in organizing a mobile clinic.

Sukoharjo: Sixty percent of the area in Sukoharjo is flooded with thousands of houses inundated. ACT members also report that thousands of hectares of paddy fields are also underwater. On December 26, 2007, YEU provided mobile health services in Laban village in the Mojo Laban sub-district and supported ongoing health services with a generator.

Surakarta: In Surakarta, the Jebres sub-district was the worst hit. A mobile medical team from YEU provided health services for the most affected communities. YEU also collaborated with the municipal water authority, known as Perusahan Daerah Air Minum (PDAM), to provide clean water through water purification units. YTBI, together with the Javanese Church in Manahan, Solo district, supported an emergency food distribution from a public kitchen set up by the church. 

Based on the rapid assessments, CWS distributed 100 baby kits, 50 boxes of mineral water (20 bottles per box), 250 sleeping mats and blankets on December 27, 2007.  CWS has been working closely with YEU in its mobile clinic activities in Surakarta.

Bojonegoro: YTBI contributed US$ 555 to provide hygiene kits in Bojonegoro, one of the most seriously affected areas, where very few buildings escaped the floods. Transportation to the affected areas is difficult and food is being delivered by military helicopters. 

Nias, Northern Sumatra: Seven villages in Nias were inundated with 2 meter high flood waters, reports YTBI’s implementing partner, Yayasan Da Tafaea (YDT).  People were in immediate need of food and potable water and YTBI sent US$ 1,500 to assist the most vulnerable. 

A request for the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) from ACT members in Indonesia is currently being developed for approval by the ACT Coordinating Office (CO).  The ACT Indonesia Forum is monitoring the situation and will keep the ACT CO informed of any further needs for support. 

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).