Walhi warned of epidemic unless the authorities were quick in taking precaution.
Bandarlampung (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian environmentalist organization (Walhi) expressed concern with the many people falling victims to flooding in the country.

In 2012, hundreds of people were killed in flooding and landslides and the disasters remain a threat every year.

Mukri Friatna, Walhi coordinator told ANTARA news agency here that there were 503 rain triggered floods and landslides in 2012 leaving 140 people killed in 54 locations in 22 regencies in the country.

The areas hardest hit by flooding were those in the provinces of West Java, Banten and Maluku, Mukri said.

Early 2013, flooding and landslides are continuing hitting 55 regencies and cities with 22 people killed, according to Walhi.

In the regency of Serang alone in Banten, flooding has inundated 14 of 28 sub-districts in the regency since January 7 peaking on January 8.

In the village of Ragas Masigit in the sub-district of Carenang, there are 320 houses and hundreds of hectares of rice fields with two month old crop damaged by flooding.

In the village of Cakung, in the sub-district of Binuang the flood water was as high as 40 cm on Saturday filling the villagers` houses.

The villagers had received no aid either because of negligence of the district authorities or problem in logistics, Walhi said.

The local people were forced to move to higher places setting up tents on road sides .

However, problems continued to haunt them with no clean water, and shrinking provision of food and medicines especially for women and children.

In urban areas such a sin the city of Tangerang the people fared better with aid coming immediately both from the government and philanthropists.

There are also aid from political parties, whose concern is mainly to attract sympathy rather than to show sympathy, a local people said.

Mukri said flooding had also damaged highways citing the Lebak Wangi highway between Rumpin and Parung Panjang paved with concrete only two years ago, was 90 percent damaged.

Walhi called for aid from the district administration of Serang for the victims of flooding and landslides .

The victims especially women and children in isolated areas need emergency accommodations, foods and medicines.

Walhi warned of epidemic unless the authorities were quick in taking precaution.
(Uu.AS/H-ASG/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013