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ACTNews, JAKARTA – Partnering with Mercy Relief
Singapore, ACT supplied 8,000 litres of clean water for the flood victims in
Bidara Cina Urban Village, Jatinegara SubDistrict, East Jakarta, on Wednesday
(1/8). Clean water was rationed out to the residents of Bidara Cina to help fulfill
their immediate needs for drinking, showering, and cooking.
Besides
Bidara Cina, the clean water aid from Mercy Relief Singapore was also
distributed in batches to other areas in Jakarta. In total, 40,000 litres of
clean water were distributed to the flood-affected neighborhoods in Greater
Jakarta (JABODETABEK).
Ani
Wahyati (39), a resident of block 2 Bidara Cina urban village admitted that
clean water had been scarce because the flooding had contaminated their clean
water sources. Additionally, the blackout had caused the Regional Drinking
Water Company (PDAM) failing to channel the water to their flats. “We had to
buy water that costs IDR 6,000 per gallon. It costs IDR 8,000 if you live above
the ground floor. The price depends on the floor on which we live,” said Ani.
Before the clean water distribution, Ani and other residents of the tenement
blocks had only a limited amount of water for drinking and cleaning.
Ati
Surati (60), a resident of Block 2-C, said that the clean water distribution on
Wednesday (1/8) was extremely helpful to meet the residents’ dire need for
clean water. “Even before the flood, water was only available for a
short period from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day,” Ati narrated.
Naah
(37) also expressed her gratitude for the clean water distribution. “Our lives were
quite restricted after the flood. Electricity and water were not available, and
no shops were opened,” said the woman who was originally from Brebes and has
lived in Jakarta for years.
Masahiro
Ishizeki, Head of Mercy Relief Singapore’s International Programmes, stated
that, in line with Mercy Relief’s vision, the provision of clean water for the
Jakarta flood victims aimed to fulfill their daily needs for water. Ishizeki
further hoped that the clean water distribution could ease the
burden of the flood victims. “ACT has good volunteers and good capability in
understanding what relief aid is needed in the disaster-hit areas,” said
Ishizeki to ACTNews, Wednesday (1/8).
Aside from distributing clean water, Mercy Relief Singapore also handed out 4,000 portions of hot meals prepared in ACT Public Kitchens. These hot meal packages were distributed for the victims of flood and landslide in several of Sub-Districts in Bogor.
About Mercy Relief
Headquartered
in Singapore, Mercy Relief was established in 2003 to respond to human
tragedies and disasters in Asia Pacific. Mercy Relief provides emergency aid
within 72 hours of an appeal in the aftermath of a disaster. Our longer-term
sustainable development projects aim to uplift and empower communities in five
key areas: water and sanitation, shelter, sustainable livelihoods, healthcare
and education. For the past decade, Mercy Relief has responded to more than 80
human tragedies with more than $36.1 million in relief across 25 countries. We
have implemented more than 59 sustainable development initiatives and impacted
an aggregate of over 2.1 million lives.
About Humanity Water Truck
Humanity
Water Truck is one of ACT’s humanitarian vehicles reliable to assist the
victims of natural disasters, including those of Jakarta flooding. Humanity
Water Truck coordinator Muhammad Fadly said that the Humanity Water Truck can
hold up to 20,000 liters of clean water. “The water distributed by Humanity
Water Truck comes from a spring located on the mountains of Sukabumi,” said
Fadly, Wednesday (1/8). []
