East Flores Flood Refugees Lacking Masks, Logistics

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Victims of flash floods in East Flores in shelters said that there is a lack of logistics at the evacuation site, which is at the Madrasah Aliyah Islamic School in Waiwerang, East Adonara. According to the evacuees, assistance from the central government has not arrived.

"Assistance from the center is not here yet. This morning, we received aid from the East Flores District Health Office," Steven, a researcher from the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN), told Tempo from the disaster site, Tuesday, April 6.

Steven said that hundreds of refugees there lacked logistics, such as food, drink, medicine, and others. "We also need mats. The refugees sleep on the floor covered with tarpaulin. We also need masks, there are crowds here and no masks," he said.

He suspects that logistics distribution is late because the only way to access the village is by sea, while until last night, there were high waves due to strong winds.

"We plead for logistics to be sent here immediately. Many children have started to have fever here," he said.

Flash floods, landslides and strong winds hit 11 regencies and cities in East Nusa Tenggara on Sunday last week. The worst hit areas are the districts of East Flores, Alor, and Lembata, with hundreds of houses destroyed.

According to data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of 9 p.m. yesterday, the disaster had killed 84 people and injured 15. Meanwhile, 71 people are still missing.

Minister of Social Affair Tri Rismaharini said her department had sent food, tents and other equipment to Adonara, Lembata and Bima, West Nusa Tenggara. Risma estimated the aid, sent last night, will arrive in Adonara this morning.

Read: NTT Flash Floods Victims to Receive Rp10-15 Million Compensation

DEWI NURITA