Lapindo Victims are Starving
Tuesday, 04 March, 2008 | 16:33 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Lapindo mud victims from Besuki Village, Jabon, Sidoarjo, especially those who evacuated to the ex-Porong toll road are hungry. They acknowledged being unaware of where to ask for food. “It's been three days we've been searching for food; instant noodles from the neighbors are also limited. The residents don't work any more,” Ali Mursyid, the resident coordinator, told Tempo today (4/3).

Since Sunday (2/3) the food aid—rice-- which was usually available for the residents was actually halted without any cause. Either the Social Services or Lapindo apparently delegated responsibility to fulfill the food need for the evacuees. “According to Social Services, food is Lapindo's responsibility, but Lapindo denied this and said it's not their total responsibility,” said Ali Imron.

According to the map of the Sidoarjo Mudflow Handling Agency (BPLS), the breached dike which inundated Besuki Village and in line with the President’s Regulation No.14/2007was Lapindo's responsibility. The regulation stated the distribution of the dike handling which is partly carried out by BPLS with the State Budget, and the remaining is Lapindo's responsibility including the effects due to breaching.

In the meantime, residents could only rely on aid from their neighbors. This is despite the number of evacuees who live on the ex-toll road which grew to 1,063 from 297 families.

Rohman Taufiq