Bima is totally ‘paralyzed’ after the floods
BIMA, West Nusa Tenggara – Promptly around 6:32 pm, Saturday, 24 December 2016, The clouds still blanketed the town of Bima. Likewise with the falling rain, drenching the city surrounded by Jatiwangi hills. In the drizzle, humanitarian teams from Disaster Management Center (DMC) Dompet Dhuafa and DASI NTB, rushed to the location where flood victims need to be evacuated.
Approximately 30 minutes drive from the Central Command Post, Talabiu highway, District Palidelo. Finally, we arrived at the location of the flood, and we directly helped residents moving their goods to temporary shelters. Activities of the survivors today (24/12) are still in the stage of evacuation, cleaning the yard, improve transportation, and some survivors helped each other evacuating their belongings to the families that are not subject to flooding. Such as Suburb Woha, Palibelo, Monta and Dompu, being the location of evacuation.
Up to 12:14 pm some roads in Bima are still flooded above the ankle. Among Jalan Gajah Mada, Jalan Sultan and Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin Kaharuddin. As a result of most motorcyclists, breaking down when crossing roads are still flooded.
As a result of the swift river overflow, five bridges across cities and provinces in the town of Bima are devastated. One of them along the Kodo Kodo Satu and Kodo Dua rivers. Citizens who want to pass must turn around using another way at greater distances.
During this emergency response, the victims desperately need food assistance, clean water, medicines, clothes, and blankets. Children need diapers and other nutrients. Survivors also require medical services since hospitals in the city of Bima is not operating. Most of them are impaired ulcer disease, flu, diarrhea, and itching.
Instead of helping evacuation, a humanitarian team from DMC Dompet Dhuafa and DASI NTB has distributed more than 800 packs of ready to eat food around the houses affected by the floods. Among them are evacuation centers at the village of Nae, Sadia, Jatiwangi, and Penaraga.
Sanadi, Dompet Dhuafa response team, said that during the past two weeks, the funds needed for emergency response around Rp. 135 million covering logistics, medicines, baby and kids needs. “Let we lighten the burden of flood victims in Bima with the help of prayer and donations through Dompet Dhuafa,” he hoped.