Rawa Buaya, West Jakarta, Indonesia
- Residents of Rawa Buaya, sub district of West Jakarta received cleaning kits from collaboration between two international NGOs - Muslim Aid based in London and Qatar Charity based in Qatar together with Muslim Aid's team of volunteers. Muslim Aid's network of 900 volunteers had been prepared in advance for this year's floods through several coordination meetings and training programmes learning from their experience last year and were ready to move once floods hit.
After the floods which inundated a number of locations in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta, residents' concerns over the possibilities of water-borne diseases have increased significantly. Rawa Buaya, an area which is inundated annually by floods as high as 1 to 2,5 meters by very prone to Chikunguya Virus (a viral disease caused by the bite of Aedes Mosquito), dengue fever and diarrhea. Having learned from their previous experiences, local residents had the initiative to keep their environment free of these diseases by holding an environment clean up day.
Muslim Aid which distributed evacuation kits during its emergency response to the floods in Rawa Buaya in early February, heard about the residents' aspirations to take action to keep their environment healthy. Muslim Aid proposed to Qatar Charity which has also been showing its concern about the Jakarta flood victims that they could work together in providing help to the residents of Rawa Buaya. These two international NGOs held a discussion with the local leaders in Rawa Buaya to help the residents by providing them with cleaning kits. "We are very happy because the residents have a strong awareness to keep their living environment clean and healthy. Therefore Muslim Aid and Qatar Charity joined hands to provide the necessary equipment for the residents of Rawa Buaya," told Zahra Nihayati, a member of Muslim Aid Emergency Response Team.
On 10 February 2008, 57 packages of cleaning kits were distributed to the residents of Rawa Buaya. Each package contained a 1 shovel, 1 wheelbarrow, 1 hoe, 1 fork, 5 pairs of rubber boots and 10 sacks for removing the mud. The residents gathered at 8am to carry out the clean up. Using their new cleaning kits, they clean up the clogged drainages and the garbage. "We are very happy to see their determination and commitment to produce a healthy living environment. Muslim Aid and Qatar Charity are very proud of the achievements of residents of Rawa Buaya," said Mark Deasey, Jabodetabek Area Coordinator for Muslim Aid Indonesia.
The following day, Muslim Aid and Qatar Charity distributed 500 matresses and 500 blankets for the residents. "We are very grateful for the donations from Muslim Aid and Qatar Charity. Now, we can live in a comfortable environment, away from diseases," explained Warkem, a local community leader.
For further information please contact:
M. K. Wirasaputra
mkwirasaputra@gmail.com
+6281932072711