Drought, 27 Regions in East Java Enter Emergency Status

SURABAYA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of East Java Province (Jatim) noted that throughout 2024 there were 27 regencies/cities in East Java experiencing drought. This was marked by the determination of a drought emergency status.

Head of BPBD East Java Gatot Soebroto revealed that a number of regions that have declared a drought emergency status are Lamongan Regency, Bangkalan, Bondowoso, Gresik, Lumajang, Situbondo, Sampang, Pamekasan, Banyuwangi, Bojonegoro, Blitar, Ponorogo, Jombang, Tulungagung, Pacitan, Malang, Mojokerto, Probolinggo, Ngawi, Tuban, Trenggalek, Jember, Pasuruan, Sumenep, Magetan, Kediri, and Batu City.

"Of that number, the majority have set their areas on drought emergency alert status. However, there are four areas that have set drought emergency response status, namely Jombang Regency, Blitar Regency, Lumajang, and Pacitan," said Gatot.

One of the efforts made to overcome the drought is to drop clean water. Most recently, clean water dropping was carried out in Kunjorowesi Village, Ngoro District, Mojokerto Regency

From the available data, there are 4,937 people or around 1,556 families of Kunjorowesi Village residents who received clean water dropping assistance. In addition to clean water assistance, the East Java BPBD also provided logistical assistance for handling the drought in the form of 20 units of 1,200 liter capacity tanks, 10 units of folding tanks, 100 sheets of tarpaulin, and 200 units of jerry cans.

The assistance was distributed not only to the Kunjorowesi community, but also to residents of Manduro Mangung Gajah Village, Ngoro District and Duyung Village, Trawas District, which both also experienced drought.

Gatot admitted that drought in Kunjorowesi Village occurs every year. So far, the Mojokerto Regency BPBD has also dropped clean water with the available budget.

"Currently we are supporting from the budget available in the province. Alhamdulillah, we also provide assistance in the form of reservoirs, folding reservoirs, tarpaulins, and jerry cans," he said.

In addition to dropping clean water, BPBD East Java together with BPBD Mojokerto Regency also continue to seek permanent solutions to handling the drought in Kunjorowesi Village. Efforts to find solutions are carried out by involving universities.

"Several efforts have actually been made, but have not been successful. The plan is, we will continue to try to find other solutions," he concluded.