BNPB Provides Assistance To Local Governments Affected By Floods In Riau

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto provided assistance to refugees affected by flooding in Riau Province, Thursday (18/1/2024). (ANTARA/HO-BNPB)

PEKANBARU - Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto provided food and non-food assistance to district/city and provincial governments affected by flooding in Riau.

BNPB provides ready-to-use funds (DSP) for 10 regencies/cities amounting to Rp250 million, while Riau Province Rp350 million.

"Indeed, this year's flood is a cycle for almost twenty years because the rainfall is quite large," said Suharyanto in his statement quoted by ANTARA, Friday, January 19.

Data from the Riau Province Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) as of Wednesday (17/1) the total number of displaced residents is 2,523 families (9,930 people). Refugees are spread across six districts, namely Pelalawan, Rokan Hilir, Indragiri Hulu, Dumai, Bengkalis, and Siak.

After landing at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport, Pekanbaru, Suharyanto accompanied by Acting Governor of Riau, representatives of Commission VIII of the DPR and Deputy for Emergency Management of BNPB carried out flood monitoring by air.

Inspection of the area by helicopter to see the current condition of the Pelalawan and Indragiri Hulu areas where there are still puddles.

Suharyanto took the time to land in Rengat District, Indragiri Hulu to meet flood-affected residents at the Lake Raja evacuation post and distribute BNPB assistance.

After the visit in Indragiri Hulu, the helicopters left for the airport in Pekanbaru.

From air monitoring, Suharyanto saw that the impact of the flood also disrupted access roads connecting provinces starting from North Sumatra, West Sumatra to Riau Province, some were flooded. According to him, this requires comprehensive handling.

Suharyanto said that the affected residents had been displaced for more than a week on average. His party hopes that the flood can recede soon and the community can carry out normal activities.

The head of BNPB continued his journey to visit the refugee post in Rumbai District, Pekanbaru City. Suharyanto saw the condition of residents affected by the flood and ensured that the handling of the affected residents was going well. The area that is still inundated is in Rumbai District.

When meeting the group of mothers at the refugee camp, Suharyanto encouraged them to face disasters. The head of BNPB also asked residents to be patient when they were in refugee camps. Before leaving the place, he handed back aid to the affected residents.

In addition to Ready-to-Use Funds, BNPB also provides food and non-food assistance in the form of 500 packages of ready-to-eat food, 500 packages of basic necessities, 500 blankets, 500 mattresses, 500 packages of hygiene kits, 500 bottles of liquid soap, 5 units of tower lamp 5 units, 5 units of alcon pumps, 4 units of family tents, 2 units of refugee tents, 2 generators, 2 units of boats and 2 units of engines.

Local governments that receive food and non-food assistance are Bengkalis, Rokan Hilir, Kuantan Singingi, Kampar, Meranti Islands, Rokan Hulu, Indragiri Hilir, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu, and Pekanbaru City.