Press Review for June 2007
(Baca Versi Bahasa Indonesia)
This edition will be opened by positive news. State Minister of Research and Technology have prepared technical reference for earthquake and tsunami prone cities. The reference is expected to be used by provincial government in their city planning to minimize the damage and injured people in case disaster occurs. On June 30th until July 3rd 2007 Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (Walhi) are conducting Konferensi Rakyat attended by 1.600 participants all over Indonesia. Meanwhile, tectonic earthquake sensor able to detect tsunami wave are now installed in 4 points in East Nusa Tenggara. The effort to compile tsunami sensor should also be accompanied by sufficient information for community. Panic attack on people when tsunami siren rings in Aceh and tsunami issue spread in East Nusa Tenggara should have been used as warning. Government should also not satisfied easily even though Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Board (BRR) was receiving compliment from various country in their reconstruction work in several disaster-affected areas.
Not only in Indonesia, has disaster also happen all over the world. Massive flood hits Kuala Lumpur up to 1 meter high. The flood is predicted to be the worst since 2003. Nine people died and the other 75.000 lives with no electricity caused by storm in Australia. Hot waves hit north and central side of India killed at least 74 people, in south area of Bangladesh landslide, flood, and thunder strike have killed 101 people. From China, victims of flash flood has reached 71 people with more than 640.000 people flee from their home.
In Indonesia, flood happened in several areas. Number of villages in Dayeuhluhur District, Cilacap Regency, was hit by flood since Friday (8/6) night to Saturday. Torrential rain has also causing flood in Bone, Wajo, and Luwu Utara. The same thing happened in East Kalimanatan Timur, torrential rain since Sunday (17/6) has flooded the area up to 50cm high. Flood victims in Luwu Utara starts to suffer from various diseases such as diarrhea, skin disease, and acute respiratory infection (see page 16).KapuasRiver overflow has also caused flood in some areas in Putussibau, West Kalimantan Barat. From Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan Selatan flood inundated Sebambam Baru and Sebambam LamaVillage up to 2 meter high. At least 76 houses were inundated. Not only flood, landslide also happened in some areas of East Nusa Tenggara. Recent flood in Tangerang have rise trauma for Februaty flood victims. East path Sulawesi in Poso Regency, South Sulawesi is blocked with landslide in 12 points. Landslide also happened in Boyolali, Central Java.
Although it has already decreased, earthquake still occur.A 6.3 RS earthquake happened in southwest of Sitoli Mountain in North Sumatera Utara. BMG has also recorded 4.5 RS earthquake in northeast North Sulawesi, a 5.0 RS earthquake in southeast Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, a 4.6 RS earthquake in northwest Sabang, NAD, and a 4.8 RS earthquake in northeast Dili. Meanwhile, geo technology expert from LIPI warns that the of Jakarta can be fallen off if a 5 Mw earthquake happen. A 6.1 RS earthquake also hit North Maluku Utara, no causalities reported.
Typhoon hit Banjarmasin and Banjarbarum South Kalimantan in one time, Tuesday (5/6) afternoon. Forty houses and offices were damage. In Jambi, typhoon hit GunungLabu, Kerinci Regency. Thirty houses were damaged, 105 people flee from their houses. BMG wars for the potency of repeated typhoon in South Kalimantan. From North Sumatera, at least 20 houses in 8 Kelurahan in Binjai City were damaged, hit by typhoon. Estimated loss reaches 418 million IDR.
News from South Sumatera, 2.061 child-under-five are recorded as marasmus kwasiorkhor children and the other 20.278 child under five as malnourished children, from the total number of 193.782 child-under-five. The number are predicted to continuously increase as malnourished handling are not optimal yet. In West Java, the death toll for children under five remains high. At 2005, 2.000 child-under-five are died. WHO placed diarrhea as the main cause.
As June 3rd 2007, the number of AI affected patients has reached 99 people. Seventy Nine of them died. AI virus has spread in 38 regencies/cities in provinces as follow: West Java Barat, DKI Jakarta, Banten, North Sumatera, Central Java, East Java, Lampung, South Sulawesi, West Sumatera, South Sumatera, and Riau. Twelve chicken died in the same time in Kelurahan Gunung Bahagia, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, has confirmed to be affected by AI, based on rapid test result. As June 24th 2007, the number of positively infected has increase to 101 people. West Java becomes the highest contributor with 29 people affected.
The thread of dengue in Jambi during the transition period remains high although the number of patients has decreased. Transition period with high intensity rain can increase water pool which then might transform into Aedes Aegety mosquito habitat. Demak Regency is predicted as the highest leptospirosis prone area. From Papua, the number of HIV/AIDS case in Biak Numfor Regency, add 13 more cases up to May 31st 2007, which then gives total number 301 cases for HIV/AIDS. Head of Health Unit of North Sumatera Utara, Hj. Fatni Sulani informed HIV/AIDS has spread in 18 regency/city. In South Sumatera, the number of HIV/AIDS case in the last 6 months has increase 200 people equal to 1 additional person per day.
Writer : Erma Maghfiroh
Translator : Erma Maghfiroh
