Jakarta Scraps Plan to Evacuate Flood Victims to Halim Airport

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, said that the government has decided to not utilize Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Cibubur Camping Grounds, and Pondok Gede's Hajj Boarding House as emergency evacuation shelters for flood victims in Jakarta.

The rationale behind the decision is due to the fact that many residents have refused to be placed at those locations because those locations are located too far away from their residences. "The locations are ready, but Jakarta residents have refused to be sheltered there," said Ahok at the City Hall on Thursday, November 20, 2014.

According to Ahok, many residents have expressed their wish to be able to visit their homes when the floods finally came, and as such Jakarta's administration cannot force residents to stay at the three aforementioned locations. Therefore, Jakarta, through the Public Order Office, will direct flood-affected residents to other local shelters that are more established to prevent residents from taking up roads and areas reserved for motorists.

Ahok also said that Jakarta's Social Agency will review and renew its' standard operating procedure for the evacuation of flood victims. Under the current standard, the Agency is able to provide emergency shelters and food aid within three hours, given the flood depth has not exceeded one meter.

Previously in 2013, Jakarta Administration planned to improve on its' standard operating procedure by centralising emergency shelters in a fixed number of locations, which was perceived to be the most effective way to deliver aid to affected victims.

That said, Ahok plans to impose stricter rules for aid delivery at shelters around the city, as plenty of residents, many of whom were unaffected by the floods, often gather on roadside makeshift shelters to beg for money and aid directly from passing motorists, which often creates severe congestion in shelter areas.

Ahok also said that the Public Works Agency is expediting the construction of levees along Ciliwung's river banks and improvement works on the city's drainage and waterways. The works, however, cannotbe finished in a matter of days, and as such, Ahok has asked residents to be more patient.

LINDA HAIRANI