Citizens of Jakarta unite to help flood victims

When push came to shove in Jakarta’s flood-affected areas recently, citizens gathered to lend their help and open their homes to victims, be it for those whose houses were inundated or for animals that were left stranded.

Sardi, 37, a military officer who was on duty in the flood-affected Kampung Pulo in East Jakarta, said he had enjoyed being a part of a rescue team for flood victims.

“I am happy because my duties as a military officer are filled only with training. I saw this as a chance to get out of that routine and help others in need,” he said on Monday.

Meanwhile, Jaja Hermanto, 28, a fireman, said that while he was working to help the flood victims, his mind was split between his job and his family at home in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, which was also affected by floods.

“My house has never been inundated before. I’m worried if the floodwater increases, because I have only been married for a year and we have a newborn child,” he said, adding that the floodwater was 50 centimeters high
at his house.

Jaja said he acknowledged the risk of being a fireman but saw it as a part of his duty to serve the country.

“My family is worried about me, but my wife is pleased because my profession is about helping others,” Jaja told The Jakarta Post.

Across parts of Jakarta hardest-hit by floods, members of animal rescue teams also gathered to save stranded pets that had been abandoned by their owners, as well as saving stray cats and dogs.

“As of Sunday, our team had rescued around 30 animals, including cats and dogs. Most of them were found in Pluit, North Jakarta,” said Caesara Paramita, the initiator of Garda Satwa, an organization focusing on rescuing stray cats and dogs, on Monday.

“We initiated this team because other rescue teams are focusing their activity on rescuing people affected by floods. Therefore, we have to do our part in rescuing the animals,” she told the Post.

Some of the animals were found in a poor condition and the rescue team took them to veterinarians and pet shelters in Gunung Sidur, Bogor and in Cinere, Depok, she said.

Caesara added that Garda Satwa, in collaboration with Animal Defender and Jakarta Animal Aid, called on citizens to help animals by spreading information through social media, to gather volunteers as well as donations.

“I am overwhelmed with the response from animal lovers in the capital, because we succeeded in gathering almost 100 kilograms of pet food for animals affected by floods,” she said.

She added that the team also distributed pet food for stray cats and dogs at refugee shelters, including in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta.

Meanwhile, veterinarian Silfiana Ganda Kesuma said the rescue process was hampered by misleading broadcast messages spread through social media.

“On Saturday, we received a message that a pet shop was inundated in Pluit. It was a hoax, because the rescue team didn’t find anything at the location,” she said. “These kinds of messages wasted our time and
energy.” (nad/aml/The Jakarta Post) 

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