The natural disasters that devastated Minahasa, in North Sulawesi in 2000 in which 22 people died, in February 2013 where 17 perished, and on 15th January 2014 thirteen people lost their lives and thousands more suffered destruction and despair; have been seared into our collective memory. The sorrow is now part of our history, but these events must inform our future. We owe it to those who died and those who suffered to learn the lessons of these of flash floods disasters. It is important to bear in mind that all levels of government and the community have an equally important role to play. In order to improve the North Sulawesi government’s disaster response and flood infrastructure management, the provincial government, with the support of local Universities should forensically examined the flooding and recommend steps to refine the provincial governments’ capacity to prepare for, and respond to, future flood events. The report should therefore, be provided to provincial government in order to implement the recommendations. Hopefully, the implementation of the recommendations will deliver benefits beyond enhancing the provincial government’s abilities to prepare for and respond to future flood events. Cathleen Lelengboto Chairperson, Kawanua UK ------------------------------ Kawanua UK (family alliance of Minahasa in the United Kingdom) with its local partner Kerukunan Keluarga Kawanua (KKK- Kawanua Family Alliance) Jakarta/Minahasa launched an international Emergency Appeal Assistance to victims of flash floods in Minahasa and Sangihe Islands. Kawanua UK (family alliance of Minahasa in the United Kingdom) has been monitoring the situation with its local partners in Minahasa, and a recent initial assessment shows that there are still areas where humanitarian gaps are evident. Due to recent destructions of the main roads, access to these affected locations is very difficult and communities cannot benefit easily to the assistance given at relocation sites. The priority, therefore, is to provide necessary humanitarian assistance to these communities in need, and then swiftly move onto rehabilitation programs. Overall Objective: To respond immediately and rapidly to the humanitarian needs of victims affected by recent flash floods in Minahasa, especially focusing on vulnerable population where assistance has not yet reached. This rapid response assistance will focus to provide food and non-food items for the displaced households. Want to Help with a Monetary Donation? You can contact: Cathleen Lelengboto, chairperson of Kawanua UK, mobile phone +44 7957 381125, email: cathylelengboto@aol Donors can make online contribution using credit card, debit card, or PayPal Online donations can be made via: Kerukunan Keluarga Kawanua - kawanua.or.id Contact person: Ayub D P Junus, Honorary Consul of Latvia in Jakarta. He is also the Head of Foreign relation & Partnership Department, Kerukunan Keluarga Kawanua, Jakarta. Mobile phone: +62 859 2124 0299, email: [email protected] Or directly to kawanua.or.id/peduli-banjir-manado.php SITUATION UPDATE The massive flash floods that hit Manado, North Sulawesi on Wednesday 15th January 2014, sweeping away houses and vehicles, receded on Thursday 16th January 2014, with the authorities reporting 15 deaths, two people missing and 60% of 40,000 residents evacuated to safer grounds. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Body (BNPB) said the flash floods and landslides caused by a combination of environmental and anthropogenic factors, affected six districts in North Sulawesi. The districts are Kota Manado, North Minahasa , Tomohon City, Minahasa, South Minahasa and Sangihe Islands. Seven deaths were reported in Kota Manado, five in Kota Tomohon and three in deeper Minahasa, a few more victims are still in the process of being retrieved from underneath debris and thick mud. Heavy downpour was triggered by the low pressure system in the waters of southern Philippines which resulted in intensive cloud formation. There was also convergence due to low pressure in Northern Australia with huge clouds entering North Sulawesi, said BNPB Public Relations and Data Information Centre head, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho in a statement, Thursday. Four main rivers in Manado City overflowed, sweeping away several houses and vehicles. The disaster this time is more massive than the one in 2000 in which 22 people died and in February 2013 where 17 perished, he added.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 07:36:03 +0000