In the recent years, Indonesia has experienced some of the most devastating natural disasters in history. In the past month, the city of Jakarta has experienced the worst flooding since 2002.
By: Huda Fahmy
In the recent years, Indonesia has experienced some of the most devastating natural disasters in history. In the past month, the city of Jakarta has experienced the worst flooding since 2002. Over 340,000 people have been left without shelter amidst continuing rainfall. After several days of heavy rain, rivers burst from their banks and sent water up to 10 feet deep into streets, homes, and businesses; about half of Jakarta is affected by the flooding. Transportation links have been severely paralyzed and about 150,000 homes are underwater. Death tolls continue to increase while thousands more are suffering from skin diseases, typhoid, dysentery, and diarrhea, all contracted from filthy floodwaters.
This urgent cry for help did not fall upon uncaring ears. Life for Relief and Development mobilized immediately to deliver emergency humanitarian aid to the victims. LIFE has since been working with its partners around the clock to deliver vital relief items including single-family tents and food packages of rice, sugar, noodles, oil, and baby food to the displaced families in various locations.
Immediately after a natural disaster takes place, rescue operations are put into effect to find and aid lost or injured victims. In as much, LIFE, in partnership with the Indonesian Red Crescent, has sent volunteer doctors and nurses to the most damaged areas of the country. In addition, LIFE joined AmeriCares to provide tons of bottled water, biscuits, noodles, and emergency lamps to families in the hardest hit areas.
LIFE's staff has visited a number of affected areas in Jokjakarta and met with a number of the victims in length, in order to assess their needs and scope of the disaster. LIFE's long-term plans include assisting families in their efforts to rebuild their destroyed or damaged homes, and assisting the local communities to restore their damaged schools and local centers. It is through the generous support of LIFE's donors, that the organization is able, with the Grace of God, to continue its humanitarian mission.