20 February 2007 - Following the flooding in Jakarta, Action Against Hunger has launched emergency programmes in the Kampung Melayu and Cipinang Besar Utara districts of Indonesia. Although most of the work has now been completed, distributions are still being carried out until the end of this month. This covers kits with basic supplies, mainly aimed at helping those parts of the population which were already vulnerable even before the crisis, as well as distributions of supplementary rations for under-five-year-olds (high-energy biscuits and bottles of water).

                      Copyright REUTERS

In these two districts, Action Against Hunger has been working on a "disaster-preparedness" programme for the population over the past two years, which facilitated the work of our teams.

Indonesian authorities as well as private companies and the community have managed to get organised and, despite initial difficulties, they have been efficient in setting up their services in order to respond to the extent of the situation. Today, Action Against Hunger’s teams in Jakarta remain mobilised, as the rainy season is not over yet. Last weekend, water levels rose again by 50 centimetres in some areas. In addition, Action Against Hunger is continuing its follow-up and monitoring work on the sanitary situation and potential risks of epidemics.

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07 February 2007 - Some weeks after the Aceh flooding, Indonesia was, once again, struck by flooding in the Jakarta region. 350,000 people have been affected by the rains, with several dozen victims. Action Against Hunger continues to respond to the emergency, distributing kits with basic supplies and hygiene kits to displaced persons. The priority is also to ensure access to drinking water in order to avoid the risk of epidemics. This operation forms part of an ongoing "Disaster-Preparedness" programme which Action Against Hunger has already been running in the area for the last two years, and a contingency plan which has also been set up for this purpose.

"Thousands of people sleeping outside in humidity"  
As a result of the flooding, thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes, which have been destroyed or washed away, and to gather in emergency centres or makeshift shelters. However, places are very limited. Most people are unprotected from the climatic conditions and have to live outside, in extremely difficult conditions, with a pressing need for drinking water and hygiene products. "The situation is not improving", says Olivier Franchi, Action Against Hunger’s Head of Mission in Indonesia. "The displaced have their feet in the water all the time, using stagnant water for doing their washing and for their most basic necessities.…An increase in water-borne diseases, such as diarrhoea, skin diseases, respiratory infections etc.,  is likely.

Added to that, there are tonnes of detritus carried along by the rain(…) »

Action Against Hunger extends its programmes to 12 000 people
Following needs assessments, and after having launched an emergency operation for 4,000 people in the first few days, Action Against Hunger’s teams remain mobilised in the districts of Kampung Melayu and Cipinang Besar Utara. They continue to distribute hygiene kits (soap, buckets, disinfectants etc.), as well as kits with basic supplies, consisting of a tent, of blankets and of plastic mattresses to improve "housing" conditions among the displaced. These programmes are aimed at covering the needs of a total of some 12,000 people.
In addition, Action Against Hunger also distributes food rations and water bottles to 4,000 children under five year old.
In addition, 50 water points have been supplied by tank lorries, emergency latrines are to be installed and rubbish collections to be organised in order to ensure access to drinking water and decent hygiene conditions for Action Against Hunger’s beneficiaries.
Action Against Hunger’s teams remain vigilant as to the uncertainty of the climatic conditions and the development of the humanitarian situation.

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