U.S. Ambassador Scot A. Marciel
Jakarta – On January 18, following the Indonesian
government’s declaration of an emergency, U.S. Ambassador Scot A. Marciel offered
U.S. assistance in response to the severe flooding in and around Jakarta.
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International
Development’s (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, will provide
$150,000 to support the humanitarian relief efforts of the Indonesian
government and assist those affected in close coordination with the Indonesian Disaster
Management Agency (BNPB) and local leaders. In cooperation with Mercy Corps, Save the Children
and World Vision, the United States support will be used for local procurement
and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including materials for flood
clean-up activities that will enable affected people to return home.
“We offer our deepest sympathies to those affected by the
terrible flooding in and around Jakarta.
While the situation has affected thousands of people, I have been
heartened by the selfless response of so many Indonesians to assist their
fellow citizens, and by the hard work and dedication of the Indonesian disaster
response officials, police and military.
With the impact of Super Storm Sandy in the United States fresh in the minds of the American people, we appreciate the
difficult challenges now facing Indonesians, and we are pleased to help,”
Ambassador Marciel said.
On January 17, the governor of Jakarta declared a state of
emergency in the capital, which is expected to remain in effect through January
27. The BNPB is leading the response and providing temporary shelter,
food, and relief items to populations residing in evacuation centers, as well
as support for post-flood clean-up efforts.
The U.S. Embassy is working closely with the BNPB and Jakarta
authorities to support the on-going disaster response efforts.
The United States Government has worked in close cooperation
with Indonesia to prepare and respond to natural disasters. In the last decade USAID has helped respond
to flooding in Ambon in 2012, the eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010, the 2009
Padang earthquake, the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake and the 2004 tsunami in
Aceh.
Source : http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/news/pr_01192013.html
Jakarta, Tuesday, January 22nd. 2013
A government agency, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), cited more than 30,000 people were
still living as refugees on Tuesday, while 20 people were killed during
the widespread flooding that hit Jakarta last week.
“Although the flood has receded, some victims are still living in refugee centers,” said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as quoted by Antaranews.com.
According to BNPB data, some 33,502 people remain in refugee camps, mostly in West Jakarta, where the number of refugees stood at 24,529, and North Jakarta, where 5,040 refugees remain.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Suhardi Alius said there were 12 areas in North and West Jakarta that were at least partially impassable due to lingering floodwaters.
“The latest data, as of 8 a.m., there were 12 areas that could not possibly be passed,” Suhardi said on Tuesday, as quoted by Antaranews.com.
In West Jakarta, there were five regions that were not passable: Jalan Gedung Panjang, Jalan Pancoran, Glodok, Jalan Perniagaan Pasar Pagi, Jalan Susilo and Jalan Muwardi.
Seven regions in North Jakarta remained inundated by floodwaters, including Jembatan Tiga, Jalan Pluit Putra, Jalan Pluit Raya Selatan, Muara Baru, Pluit Timur and Gedong Panjang. Floodwaters in some areas still stood as high as 70 centimeters.
Apart from displacing more than 30,000 people, at least 20 people reportedly died as a result of the flooding.
“Out of the 20 people that got killed , most of them died in locations that were far from the overflowing rivers,” Sutopo said.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast heavy rain for Greater Jakarta from January 23rd, Wednesday through Jan. 29.Tuesday.
Jakarta may have suffered Rp. 20 trillion in losses due to the recent floods.
Jakarta may have suffered losses of up to Rp20 trillion (US$2 billion) as a result of the floods that have inundated the capital since January 15.
In order to better tackle floods in the future, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo proposed the construction of a multipurpose underground tunnel in the city.
"Building a deep tunnel can be part of a long-term solution to Jakarta`s flooding problem," he said, adding that the project might require an investment of Rp16 trillion.
The governor also expressed hope that Jakarta`s Members of Parliament would support the plan to build the multipurpose tunnel soon.
Earlier, Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (APINDO) chairman Sofjan Wanandi stated that businesses in Jakarta lost at least Rp1 trillion due to delayed delivery of raw materials in the wake of floods.
"The minimum loss is a total of Rp1 trillion, incurred by various industries - especially upstream industries - because the raw materials cannot be delivered to the downstream industries," he said.
Sofjan noted that the estimated loss did not include the losses that were yet to be reported by several other industries, such as the insurance industry, since the flood had claimed many lives and destroyed a number of vehicles.
"There are many industries that have not yet reported their material losses, but it seems the retail industry has been hit the hardest," he said.
Sofyan stated that the flooding hampered many businesses in the Jakarta Industrial Estate Pulogadung (JIEP).
"I have received a report that out of a total of 375 factories in JIEP, more than half have been forced to shut down because the workers are unable to get inside," he said.
The floods disrupted the transportation of raw materials from the capital city to the industrial areas. Besides, electricity supply was also cut to many areas, such as Pulogadung, Tangerang and Banten.
Sofyan said the upstream industry resumed normal activities on Monday, but transportation expenses had increased as a result of the floods.
"Our expenditure has gone up, but if we raise the price of our goods, no one would want to buy them. We are yet to find a solution to this problem," he added
“Although the flood has receded, some victims are still living in refugee centers,” said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as quoted by Antaranews.com.
According to BNPB data, some 33,502 people remain in refugee camps, mostly in West Jakarta, where the number of refugees stood at 24,529, and North Jakarta, where 5,040 refugees remain.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Suhardi Alius said there were 12 areas in North and West Jakarta that were at least partially impassable due to lingering floodwaters.
“The latest data, as of 8 a.m., there were 12 areas that could not possibly be passed,” Suhardi said on Tuesday, as quoted by Antaranews.com.
In West Jakarta, there were five regions that were not passable: Jalan Gedung Panjang, Jalan Pancoran, Glodok, Jalan Perniagaan Pasar Pagi, Jalan Susilo and Jalan Muwardi.
Seven regions in North Jakarta remained inundated by floodwaters, including Jembatan Tiga, Jalan Pluit Putra, Jalan Pluit Raya Selatan, Muara Baru, Pluit Timur and Gedong Panjang. Floodwaters in some areas still stood as high as 70 centimeters.
Apart from displacing more than 30,000 people, at least 20 people reportedly died as a result of the flooding.
“Out of the 20 people that got killed , most of them died in locations that were far from the overflowing rivers,” Sutopo said.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast heavy rain for Greater Jakarta from January 23rd, Wednesday through Jan. 29.Tuesday.
Jakarta may have suffered Rp. 20 trillion in losses due to the recent floods.
Jakarta may have suffered losses of up to Rp20 trillion (US$2 billion) as a result of the floods that have inundated the capital since January 15.
In order to better tackle floods in the future, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo proposed the construction of a multipurpose underground tunnel in the city.
"Building a deep tunnel can be part of a long-term solution to Jakarta`s flooding problem," he said, adding that the project might require an investment of Rp16 trillion.
The governor also expressed hope that Jakarta`s Members of Parliament would support the plan to build the multipurpose tunnel soon.
Earlier, Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (APINDO) chairman Sofjan Wanandi stated that businesses in Jakarta lost at least Rp1 trillion due to delayed delivery of raw materials in the wake of floods.
"The minimum loss is a total of Rp1 trillion, incurred by various industries - especially upstream industries - because the raw materials cannot be delivered to the downstream industries," he said.
Sofjan noted that the estimated loss did not include the losses that were yet to be reported by several other industries, such as the insurance industry, since the flood had claimed many lives and destroyed a number of vehicles.
"There are many industries that have not yet reported their material losses, but it seems the retail industry has been hit the hardest," he said.
Sofyan stated that the flooding hampered many businesses in the Jakarta Industrial Estate Pulogadung (JIEP).
"I have received a report that out of a total of 375 factories in JIEP, more than half have been forced to shut down because the workers are unable to get inside," he said.
The floods disrupted the transportation of raw materials from the capital city to the industrial areas. Besides, electricity supply was also cut to many areas, such as Pulogadung, Tangerang and Banten.
Sofyan said the upstream industry resumed normal activities on Monday, but transportation expenses had increased as a result of the floods.
"Our expenditure has gone up, but if we raise the price of our goods, no one would want to buy them. We are yet to find a solution to this problem," he added
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