Aid Packages for Flash Flood-affected Families in Adonara

On April 24, 2021, IDEP partnered with local NGO YPPS to distribute basic needs packages to 32 displaced families affected by flash floods in Nelelamawangi village, Adonara, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The flash flood occurred after Tropical Cyclone Seroja first hit and triggered heavy rains in most areas of NTT in early April. Adonara was one of the hardest affected, with 32 people dead.

The distribution process (Photo: M. Awal)

The aid packages they received consist of food, cutlery and kitchen utensils, sanitation kits, and masks. Each family received one package. The items distributed were determined based on the results of their most urgent needs assessment.

Dozens of families who received the package are evacuees who currently live in independent evacuation posts in classrooms at Nelemandike Elementary School in Nelelamawangi village. The majority of them had no choice but to evacuate in the school building. Apart from being unable to return to their heavily damaged houses, they also do not have families in neighboring villages whose houses they can live in as temporary evacuees.

There are 92 families with a total of 262 people living in this evacuation post. They consisted of 130 males and 132 females. Of that number, there are 26 babies and toddlers, 42 children, 38 teenagers, 59 elderly people, and 2 people with disabilities.

The women after receiving aid packages (Photo: M. Awal)

As far as the IDEP and YPPS teams observed in the field, they did not receive much assistance as most of the assistance went to evacuation posts set up by the government elsewhere. Yet they received several aids, for example from IDEP, YPPS, and other volunteer organizations, the type and its amount was still not sufficient to meet all their needs while in the evacuation.

In addition to the lack of aid they received due to the uneven distribution system, the government plan to build permanent housing (Huntap) for evacuees who have lost their homes has remained unclear. The reason is that the land chosen by the government is the customary land of several local tribes. Thus, the decision to use the land has to be approved by the traditional elders and tribal leaders. This process can take quite a while.

There is a playground post for the children around Nelemandike Elementary School (Photo: M. Awal)

This situation potentially leads the affected families to stay longer in the evacuation. The limited amount of assistance they have received even puts them in a more difficult situation. Even though the government ended the emergency response period, the damaged houses left them with no choice but to continue living in the classrooms. (Gd/Ed)