Banjar Regent declares flood emergency, hands over assistance

Banjar Regent Khalilurrahman checks food in the public kitchen prepared by the district government to help flood victims. (Antaranews Kalsel/HO-Dinas Kominfo Standi Banjar)

We hope flood victims to patiently accept this trial and officers can provide maximum assistance to the community so they have no trouble, especially to meet their needs,

Martapura, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Banjar Regent Khalilurrahman on Tuesday came to visit and at the same time handed over assistance to residents affected by flooding in Martapura and East Martapura Sub-districts.

The Regent was accompanied by the District Secretary Mokhammad Hilman and a number of officials, including Head of Social Agency Ahmadi, Acting Head of Banjar Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Irwan Kumar, and Head of Communication, Informatics, Statistics, and Encoding M Aidil Basith.

"We have already handed over assistance, especially basic necessities, to a number of flooded areas. Our hope is the assistance can ease the burden of residents affected by the flood," he said.

Previously, Regent Khalilurrahman declared flood emergency response status following 10 sub-districts being flooded due to high rainfall in the last few days.

"The Regent has determined the flood emergency response status since Monday (Jan 11, 2021), so the emergency effort will be made according to the field condition," said M Hilman in Martapura, Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the district government assisted by TNI and Polri personnel evacuated residents whose houses were inundated by flood to a safer place to prevent unwanted things.

"We hope flood victims to patiently accept this trial and officers can provide maximum assistance to the community so they have no trouble, especially to meet their needs," Regent said.

After reviewing the public kitchen and seeing the condition of flood victims who took refuge to the office hall of the Martapura Kota Sub-district, the Regent visited Kampung Melayu Village and Pekauman Village in East Martapura.

The Regent, who is familiarly called Guru Khalil, saw tens of residents' houses of flood victims, then he handed over logistic assistance to Acting Head of East Martapura Sub-district Guslan.

"We appeal people living along the riverside to always be aware of potential flooding and immediately evacuate to the higher place and evacuation point has been prepared," he said.