Aid Pouring (on) Flood Victims

February 7th, 2007, in News & Issues, by Patung

A classic headline from the Jakarta Post.

From their latest news section, this headline, a metaphor mess - More foreign aid pours flood victims.

The complete article makes more sense however:

More foreign countries have expressed their commitments to help flood victims in the capital and its surrounding, whose houses and properties have been inundated since last Friday.

The Dutch government said it is sending US$1.3 million to Indonesia to help bring relief to millions of people hit by deadly flooding in the capital, Jakarta.

Overseas Development Aid Minister Agnes van Ardenne said half the money would be used to buy food, medicine, clothes and blankets for victims. The other half would buy rubber boats to ferry them around the inundated city. “As good friends, it goes without saying that we would help Indonesia now that 75 percent of Jakarta is underwater”, Van Ardenne was quoted by AP news agency as saying.

Meanwhile, the European Union said Tuesday it would give US$777,300 to help flood victims in Jakarta.

The U.S. Australia, and Japan have previously also expressed their commitments to help flood victims.

Tags: Media, Newspapers, Websites

7 Comments on “Aid Pouring (on) Flood Victims”

Asuy Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 6:43 am
I would like to pray that may this aid will be recieved by the people who really deserve it and also be used to prevent this thing to happen again. Wake up everybody! It’s time to do something about it. This is not something that we should proud of. Don’t expect to recieve more aid in 5 years from now when the next big flood come. It’s about time for us to think how to be able to give an aid to other country instead of keep recieving it.
Ihaknt Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Asuy as much as I agree with you but I think it’s just a wishful thinking. Once the water dries up then things will go on as normal as if nothing had happened. And in 5 years time? Of course, more aid. Truth hurts but we’ve become a country that mostly receives but dont give anything back - if any. Even worse, some parties will blame these aid people for whatever reasons, i.e. Christianisms, udang di balik batu, etc. It’s an ongoing cycle.
1ndra Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Hmmm, pouring aid in victim who make the flood happen.
Andrew Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 5:34 am
I doubt the aid will get to those who really need it. Large portion of it would just go “elsewhere”. That is my default stance, until Indonesia fixes itself - which could be 100 years from now, if ever.
1ndra Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Just give them something to eat and drink, medicine and evacuation barrack. Not money, because their houses and property still intact.
There’re more people have lost houses and properties who really need it because of the real disasters.
Oigal Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
because their houses and property still intact.

That must be in a different Jakarta. Perhaps the Bakrie one, where everyone is happy and singing!
Ivan Rizki Says:
February 18th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
As long as Indonesian government take thing for granted in the sense that “if we have any disaster international communities will give us aid” this country will never prosper the government will never be able to come out with its own solution.

Look at Aceh after the Tsunami are the people getting any better? Where are all the aid goes?

Just read today (18 Feb 2007) Jakartapost “Indonesia: Big nation led by small minds; Endy M. Bayuni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta”, it is a shame for Indonesian being an ungrateful people.

Don’t mad at the mirror if you are the who ugly and filthy.

Ivan Rizki
Jakarta