An uncertain future looms large among many of the communities hardest hit by the floods in Jakarta. 

Many of them are questioning how long it will be before they can return home, with houses swept away by raging waters.

On February 7, six days after the worst flooding in Jakarta's modern history, over half of the Indonesian capital remained under water. Heavy rain in the early hours of Tuesday morning triggered another wave of flooding in places which had been receding the day before.

Between 200,000 and 300,000 people -- many of them from Jakarta's poorest communities -- remained stranded at various temporary shelters across the five Jakarta municipalities.

"I actually planned to take my family back home today because the flood waters had been significantly receding yesterday," a resident in Cawang, East Jakarta, said. "But the heavy downpour has forced us to cancel the plan. The flooding has jumped to about one meter high in my home."

World Vision Indonesia National Director Trihadi Saptoadi expressed similar concerns. "Uncertainties are indeed our main problems," Trihadi said. "The flooding could turn even worse or dry up in the coming days. Nobody has the answer."

As reported earlier, the Meteorology and Geophysics Office predicted heavy rains would continue pounding Jakarta and its greater areas up to the next two weeks.

Trihadi, following his visit to flooded areas in East Jakarta, noted that hygiene and sanitation in established temporary shelters were very poor, among other reasons due to the lack of clean water supplies. "The flood victims, particularly children, are very prone to flood-related illnesses."

Reports have started surfacing of increasing numbers of children suffering from dehydration, diarrhea, cold and skin irritation. Health officers in Tangerang, west of Jakarta, for example, have begun the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of abate and chlorine to kill germs in the water containers in flooded areas to prevent leptospirosis and other related illnesses.

Charles Sinaga, World Vision's Jakarta programme coordinator said that children are most at risk of serious illness. He continued, "Many children sleep on the floor with very thin plastic sheets and a number could not take a bath or clean themselves due to limited water supplies. Many of them also have no proper clothing."

World Vision started distributing clothes to children on Tuesday. "We also want to distribute more proper mattresses. But, most suppliers have run out of stocks right now. We will keep trying, " Charles said.

World Vision relief teams have continued to distribute food, non-food and common medicines to thousands of families in project areas in East Jakarta and North Jakarta on February 6. The distribution was part of the second batch of relief aid worth over US$190,000 that World Vision is distributing this week.

The aid would support a total of more than 7,300 families (around 25,000 people). Over the weekend, World Vision distributed US$45,000 worth food and non-food relief goods to 3,000 families (over 10,000 people). World Vision plans to have a total of US$350,000 program to help the flood victims.

Hanung Sutaryadi, one of the field coordinators, remained upbeat although he was exhausted from long hours of work distributing the relief goods. "It's a bit frustrating sometimes. But, we are grateful that the victims have been very cooperative. They join hands to unload the goods and to help organize the distribution."

"We are touched as some of the victims expressed their sincere gratitude as they receive the relief aid," Hanung said.

The government made a rough estimate that the floods caused some 4.1 trillions of rupiah (almost USD 500 million) loss. Most business activities in Jakarta have been suspended since Friday. Officials estimate over 40 people in Greater Jakarta have lost their lives in this disaster.

For more information or media interviews from Jakarta, please contact:
Hendro Suwito, World Vision Indonesia Communications Manager (Mobile: +62-811997762)
Andrea Russell, World Vision Asia-Pacific Relief Communications Manager (Home/Office: +91 040 40179428; Cell: +91-9989238223).