Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Jakarta flood and poor DM



For the last 6 days, Jakarta has turned out into extra large pond where people swim all over it finding relief. Unexpectedly, it turns to be the biggest jakarta flood disaster over time, exceeding the previously most devastating 2002 flood. People thought it would just like the last year flood, water wouldn't go higher than 1 meter. Sadly, the authorities apparently think the same way; barely, no preparedness or mitigation for such a disaster. No wonder if the flood leaves (actually will still have) enormous material and immaterial loss; infrastructures collapsed, houses broken down, and 29 died so far.

Many has pointed fingers to the development of catchment area around Bogor and Puncak of West Java as source of the problem. Construction of many villas and hotels over there has been reducing the capacity of water retention. Not only hotels, but also housing, realestate, highway and shopping malls have shrinked the land for water retention. Not only Bogor and Puncak, but also Jakarta itself...too many open spaces have been converted into area for commercial use. Yet, the discussion about cause is enough, everybody knows that for sure that there's something wrong with the way policy makers think and act: " you pay the price, I make the law ". That simply describes the relationship between authorities and business. I'm now willing to look at disaster preparedness approaches supposed to be put in place on a flood prone area like Jakarta.

Recent flood with all its aftermaths marks the uncapability of Bakornas (national bureau for disaster management), provincial government of Jakarta, and the people in dealing with the flood disaster and carrying out rescue and relief operation. The first mistake was shown when weather report from BMG (Meteorology & Geophysics Bureau) did not responded by Bakornas to prepare for the worst. It is clear that there wasn't early warning system put in place following weather report. There was no alarm message made public by the bureau to get the people ready for any flood. The cost is high...aside from many has died, most people lost their belongings like house equipments, electronics, and clothings swept or damage by water.

Apparently, inside the bureau had not yet prepared for any events of catastrophe. There's information, but there's no early action. As a result, the day after heavy rainfall, people struggled themselves to escape strong waved water flooded their residences. Boats, ropes, and skilful rescue team were needed everywhere on friday (feb 2nd). But the bureau had only deployed 4 persons with only 1 boat at nearly all places in average, some even left without help.

(picture taken from Kompas daily)

Reading the site report of the Bakornas re flood mitigation, it is clear that the rescue operation and equipments deployed are still far from enough. The comparison between the number of sub-districts inundated by flood and the number of rubber boats deployed for evacuating people is so unequal. There are 58 districts inundated by water, but only 284 boats deployed, meaning only 4-5 boats for each subdistrict. In fact, there are many residence blocks in each subdistrict. This made the presence of this rescue team & boat barely just accessory, not really helpful.

What about the evacuation point? There are only 158 shelter tents available for a total of 191,300 persons displaced during the recent flood. By design, each shelter meant to accommodate 1210 persons, nonsense! Nobody knows well where to take refuge
because evacuation points are not available near each flooded block. Even an evacuation point near Ciliwung river inundated by further overflow. Funny, the rescue team didn't know where the safe place was. This simply tells us that Bakornas have no scenario for flood mitigation and rescue.

Now, look at the staple supplies provided for 191,300 refugees:
• 3,000 pieces of sarong
• 2,000 pieces of blanket
• 5,000 instant noodle
• 1,000 pieces of women dress
• 1,000 pieces of T shirt
• 1,000 pieces of long material (for women)
• 1,000 pieces of uniform (for boys)
• 1,000 pieces of uniform (for girls)
• 150 packages of baby clothing
• 150 packages of family kits
(data available from Bakornas' site report on Feb. 4, 2007)

No one would say it's enough. Many people at evacuation camps started getting sick, there are even asthma patients died during evacuation after bearing cold air for days.

Jakarta has a long history of flood since early of 1900s. Geologists knows well that some parts of Jakarta prone to flood. In the last one decade, floods in Jakarta have been increasing in volume. The 2002 flood used to be regarded as the biggest one leaving many experiences for disaster management (DM). Everyone, especially authorities, should learn much from the 2002 flood that took more than 20 lives.

Disaster Management doesn't focus on the eradication of problem source. It emphasizes on managing the best approach to reduce the impact of a disaster; loss of lives, properties, and facilities. The best and the shortest way believed is to educate people how to cope with the catastrophe; knowing their environment well and knowing the way to stay alive during the catastrophe, and to involve them in the management of disaster. This is the foundation that build the so called preparedness.

A Well prepared communities are less vulnurable than those who aren't well prepared. They will not lose many compared to unprepared one because they fully aware of living in the disaster prone area and is therefore know well what to do first when flood is coming. If they must relocate, they know the safe place to stay during the flood. Community who applies disaster management well knows how to stay healthy in their evacuation point and not getting sick because fulfillment of their basic needs have arranged far before. They have learned much from the previous experiences.

In the case of recent Jakarta flood we see no signs of preparedness at all; people were panic, rescue team were unable to take care all of them, and no evacuation points were prepared. The rescue operation was so disorganized. They didn't even predict the communication between field operatives and headquarters would be troubled by cellular network shut down. One rescue team member said they almost entirely rely the communication on cellular phones. How sad...this is the picture of community that are not prepared for a disaster event.

A proper disaster management should cover the early warning system (EWS), the evacuation/rescue, and relief operation with all resources needed. The all three parts are all vital to sustain survivors' lives. In the recent flood, we've seen the absence of EWS, the rescue-evacuation was so inadequate and so lack of proper equipments. Now, the relief operation without well-planned design has created its own problem, survivors fought themselves for foods, some are left without aid, or the food distribution point is far to reach by survivors. If the rain still to come in the upcoming days (BMG forecasted rainy days will last until end of february), it'll be really tough for survivors to cope with this situation.

Just recently, the breaking news reported a 60 year old female died after having fever for last several days during her stay at relocation camp. It's ironic that survivors already distant from flood are still vulnerable to hazards at evacuation camp. Proper tents, foods, medics, dry and warm clothings should have been prepared at evacuation camps located on safe and accessible places. Jakarta indeed needs a special design for flood management (mitigation). Poor flood management will only contribute to more and more loss.

Disaster management however not only the domain of the authorities. People must participate in the DM. Community that depend their lives only on others' help is vulnerable to unpredicted situation such as absence of aid or rescuers. The well educated community will make rescue and relief operation runs smoother and therefore will reduce the number of lost of lives and hazards at evacuation camps. It's obvious that proper disaster mitigation is called for to free the people from flood hazards that has worsened due to conversion of catchment/retention area, deforestation, and global warming.

If only, all hand in hand to tackle this matter and leave behind any interests that keep us away from preparedness...it's been too many disasters; floods, landslides, mudflow, train, ship and aircraft accidents...cape' dee...!

1 comment:

Ithoy said...

Mungkin sudah saatnya bangsa ini mulai mikir rancangan ibukotanya tahan air sebagai reaksi atas banjir yang semakin menjadi...Kan selama ini kebijakannya selalu reaktif alias adjusting to the situation begitu saja. Yang antisipatif sih biasanya bakal berakhir dibilang "GA NYAMBUNG!!!"

just a phase

just a phase

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