Press Review for October 2007

(Baca Versi Bahasa Indonesia)

Mount Kelud in in the highlight of the month. Increase activity of Mount Kelud has raise eruption thread. As of October 19th, most of local people still refused to evacuate. Apart from their bigger trust on Mbah Ronggo, the community leader, people has also raise an issue on the difficulties for them to access their source of income while they are in evacuation zone.

Rain season is coming, flood is approaching. In Lhokseumawe, 11 villages were flooded up to 50-80 cm high. In Medan city, some of the areas were even flooded up to 2 meter high. From Jakarta, 11 people representing flood victims submit appeal in City Court of Central Jakarta. Vice Governor of Jakarta, Prijanto, stated that flood in Jakarta will most likely difficult to be avoided. Therefore, Provincial Government prefers to conduct anticipation Activity in some of the flood prone areas. The activity consist of having 3.500 officials stand by, completed with equipment, early warning system, and medical back up (see page 9). In North Jakarta, tide on Monday (29/10) has inundated Tanjung Priok, Pademangan, and Muara Baru.

At least 7 sub districts in Garut, West Jawa, experienced landslide, Tuesday (30/10), damaging tens of houses and disconnecting some roads. In some areas of Indonesia, drought was happening. Farms in Tanjungbungin, Solokan, Tanahbaru and Telagajaya Village, Karawang, West Java were facing plant-failed due to dry season going on till this date. In Jasinga, Bogor, drought has caused water crisis. Water is difficult to get, and even if they get the water, the quality is bad. In Central Java, 25 sub districts and cities are facing the same problem.

Death victims of Avian Influenza are rise. AR (21) from West Java, died on September 28th, LT (44) from Riau, death on October 6th 2007, Ir (12) from Tangerang, died on October 13th 2007, and the last 4 year old child died on October 22nd 2007. Therefore, death victims on avian influenza have reached 89 people.

In Medan, Dengue is spreading again, during October, two people has died on dengue (see page 30). The number of HIV/AIDS patient in North Sumatera is in alert level. Up to June, the number of patients has reached 1.033 people. Post Idul Fitri, the number of diarrhea patients in Soedarso Hospital, Pontianak dominated. The same condition happened in Syamsudin Hospital, Sukabumi. High increase of number of patients has also happened in Palembang and surround.

Storm hit 5 sub districts in Palolo, Central Sulawesi, damaging tens of houses and public facility. Gobogan and Kudus district, Central Java also experienced storm. On Monday (15/10), storm hits 3 villages in Mandar, North Sulawesi Utara. In Demak, 502 houses were badly damaged, 13 of them were collapsed, hit by storm.

October’s edition also contains the statement from Fauzi Bowo, Governor of Jakarta; all parties have to be proactive in preparation and handling on disaster. An article from one of the house representative of West Java Province on disaster management was also attached.

International news, Vietnam was flooded, caused by Lekima storm. In West Africa, flood has caused 800.000 people affected. Series of high intensity earthquake of 6.7 RS shaken New Zealand, Tuesday (16/10), only causes minor damage. IN California, United States, fire department, as of Tuesday (23/10), still fighting massive fire in South California causing hundreds thousands of citizen evacuated.

Writer: Erma Maghfiroh
Translator: Erma Maghfiroh