Flood-Affected Victims Don't Force Themselves To Stay At Home

Floods in Jabodetabek. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo appealed to residents affected by the floods not to force themselves to stay in their homes.

Based on BMKG weather forecasts, high rainfall will continue for the next week, although currently the floods have started to recede. Therefore, Doni asked residents, especially those living on the riverbanks to evacuate immediately.

"Don't let the people still survive in areas that are close to the riverbank, because suddenly the floods can come suddenly and there is no chance to save themselves," said Doni when met at Manggarai Water Gate, Central Jakarta, Thursday, January 2.

Doni understands the reason for the residents deciding to stay at home so that they can save their belongings if the floods escalate and keep them from being stolen. However, this will make it difficult for officers to evacuate. Moreover, if there are landslides in the vicinity of residential areas.

Therefore, Doni claims to be able to ensure that the joint apparatus secures the property in the residents' houses when they are displaced.

"This morning there was an agreement with all elements such as the TNI, Polri, and Basarnas to form a security team. So, residents' assets in certain areas will be secured by elements of the security apparatus," said Doni.

According to him, the community needs to be really aware that life is important. "If property can be recovered, life cannot be bought," he added.

Meanwhile, Kapolda Metro Jaya Commissioner General Gatot Eddy Pramono said his staff would hold patrols with TNI members in areas affected by flood waters to prevent criminal acts taking advantage of the disaster that hit Jakarta.

"Many flooded areas can be crossed by boats, this is the time to be arranged, the police chief and the military command set the patrol time so that the people in the evacuation feel safe and do not worry that the goods are taken by the person who uses this opportunity to take the property of the residents," he said Gatot after inspecting the location of the flood in Daan Mogot City, West Jakarta, Thursday.

He also invited the community to actively take part in patrol activities with the TNI-Polri to maintain security in their respective neighborhoods.

"I think the community will also join the TNI-Polri together with the patrol to guard, in addition to maintaining the security of the people who live in the level houses who did not evacuate to this refuge, to ensure their belongings are also in safe houses , "he said.

Gatot also ensured that the number of joint personnel deployed was sufficient to help overcome the various problems faced by flood-affected refugees.

"For the security side, there are enough officers from the TNI-Polri, then from volunteers and so on, that's enough," he said.

Gatot last Thursday reviewed the location of floods in the IKPN Bintaro Complex, South Jakarta, Griya Ciledug Indah II Housing, Tangerang and finally at the Daan Mogot City Bridge, West Jakarta.

During his visit he noted that there were two things that the refugees still really needed, the first was tents and the second was foodstuffs.

"The first is that people still need tents for evacuation, secondly, people still need additional logistics. Later we will also add more refugee tents for them here, hopefully they can be even more comfortable," he continued.

Gatot also invited the public not to hesitate to help flood victims in all forms, because even the smallest assistance would greatly help the refugees affected by the flood.

"Therefore I appeal to people who care about this flood problem. The people here need help and donations from the community to reduce the burden on flood victims," he said.