'Does anyone benefit from disaster?'

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 02/07/2007 4:51 PM  |  Jakarta

Many have said the risks are worse than thought for flood-prone Jakarta. The number of people needing urgent help in the wake of the disaster is staggering. Yet, instead of establishing programs to promote flood safety and reduce the impacts of flooding to protect lives and property, the city administration is playing the blame game. The Jakarta Post asked some people what they thought about the issue.

Dessy is a secretary. She lives in Rawamangun, East Jakarta:

I thank God because the flood did not hit my house. But I can't travel to help my family in Bekasi as the roads in to the city are inundated.

My parents-in-law in Batam were very worried about my family after watching the news on television about the flood. They tried to call us night and day Saturday but to no avail because the telecommunications network had collapsed.

The administration and Jakartans must work hand-in-hand to resolve the problem. The administration must enforce the law, while the public fulfills its obligations to protect the environment.

Joko Santoso, works for a private company in Cikarang, West Java. He lives with his family in Bekasi:

The current flood is worse than in 2002. My residential area was flooded for three days.

I don't want to blame anybody for the incident. I don't want to sound like the government officials who have been delivering lectures on television.

One official claimed the flood would benefit poor people, particularly those living on riverbanks, as they would receive assistance. That's somewhat debatable.

Floods have been an annual occurrence in the capital and yet the government's response remains inadequate.

Don't blame nature. It is man-made tragedy. Let's do what we can to prevent future floods.

--The Jakarta Post

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