Victim of Flood Still Suffering

Iman D Nugroho
Situbondo, East Java

Victims of Situbondo’s flood, have rejected governments plan to relocated them to a new and safer places. Besides the new location is outlaying place, they though that plan is just a trick from “bad government officers” to corrupt a funds. That’s why Situbondo’s flood victims still living in suffer until now.

A small, old and faded blue tent was the only hopes for Suryotomo’s, 59, to avoid him from extreme daylight this Tuesday (04/03/08). Under that 4x4 meter tent, man who’s retired from Indonesia National Bank (BNI) a view year ago, was sit on broke closet and watched his worker toke his family’s stuff from his damaged house.

Suryotomo is one of Situbondo’s flood victims. His home in Merpati Street of Situbondo has gone when million cubic waters from Sampeyan River hit it, February 8. At that time, nine sub districts of Situbondo regency flooded with water. At least 15 people die on that tragic moment. “My home is gone, like u can see, nothing leftover in a surface,” he said to The Post.

Situbondo sub district was the worst flooded place. About 112 houses have gone with water and 703 houses got hard damages and impossible for the family to stay there permanently. Meanwhile 3248 houses sink. On other location, Panji sub district at least 62 houses have permanently gone. And hundred damages hardly. Thousands people became a refuges on main street or temporary stayed in a safety zone.

After water is gone, flood victims like Suryotomo back to their home wondered find their old stuff. Even that, tragedy which happens two months ago became scar and traumatic nightmare for Situbondo’s people. That scar getting deeper when the victims facing a new problems. “Government has plans to build a wider river and relocate us (flood victims) to a safety zone in a country,” Suryotomo said.

A new area located on Sliwung village, Panji sub district near border of Bondowoso regency about 10 Km from flooded area. “Can u imagine, we have to life there, 10 Km from here, of course we reject that silly idea,” said Tolak, one of flood victims. In their perception, move to Sliwung similar with killing them slowly. “Mostly, we are worked in town, so how can we working if we were life in Sliwung village?” Tolak said.

Nuryati, another victim said that they have told their aspiration about rejected of relocated plan. They also give another option to pay flood victims some money. “We never mention the number, it’s all up to government, but we wish we can use that money to buy or build our new home,” Nuryati said.

Woman who life with youngest her son in a small tent near the Merak street wondering that flood victims can organize their money by them self. Actually, Nuryati already build a new home near Patek beach. “My oldest daughter also life there, that’s why I build my new home near Patek beach,” she said.

Unfortunately, government still pushed their plan to relocate flood victims. Otherwise, government has started to build house foundation on that area. Their also fix road to a new villages. “Don’t blame us, if we “smell something” from it, the government see us like we are an object, not human being which suffered by flood,” Suryotomo said. “I can smell corruption on it.”

Head of People Protection Desk (Linmas) of Situbondo regency, Yamin Muazin saw flood victims rejected as a wrong decisions. Actually, government plan always base on flood victim’s necessity. “Its dangerous to stay near the river, better for them to accept governments plan,” Yamin said to The Post.

He also said, it’s not easy for government to build a new village and to decide which house design that will build in Sliwung. In fact, government has send team to Jember regency, which has build new village for flood victim which happened on 2006. “We hope that flood victims will change their decision after see new village of Jember,” he said.***