TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bekasi Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has distributed 1.4 million liters of clean water for drought-stricken residents in the regency until last Saturday, September 9.

"In accordance with the instruction from the Acting Regent of Bekasi, we will continue to distribute clean water every day until the residents recover from the drought," said the Chief Officer of BPBD Muchlis in Cikarang on Monday, September 10, 2023, as quoted by Antara.

The drought in Bekasi Regency occurred in 34 villages in nine sub-districts, affecting 100,181 people from 25,799 households. The drought also affected 21,177 hectares of agricultural land and threatened to affect 3,604 hectares more.

Previously, the government of Bekasi submitted a weather modification technology to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to mitigate the drought. However, the Acting Regent of Bekasi Dani Ramdan said in a written statement on September 6 that the measure could not be taken since there is no cloud potential yet.

Dani also admitted that the government is nearing its wit's end in handling the drought. Thus, the government of Bekasi has submitted for financial assistance from the provincial government of West Java and BNPB.

The government of Bekasi has previously released a decision to implement a 14-day Drought Emergency Response Status from August 31 to September 13 in response to the expansion of drought in the regent.

ANTARA

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