Bridge Access Is Cut Off Due to Flash Floods, Children Must Struggle to Go to School

Garut – Initiator Friends, heavy rains have caused flooding in parts of Garut Kota, Tarogong Kidul, Cilawu, Banyuresmi, Karangpawitan, Cibatu, Cikajang and Bayongbong sub-districts. This flood submerged hundreds of houses with water levels ranging from 10 to 70 centimeters. Even yesterday, the Government of Garut Regency, West Java, on Saturday had set a period of emergency response status for the next two weeks since the flash flood hit a number of sub-districts in this area, since Friday (15/7/2022) night.

In response to this, West Java Human Initiative has carried out activities in the field starting from assessments, cleaning people’s homes, distributing aid (fast food, blankets, hygiene kits, etc.) as well as opening water kitchen services at two points in disaster locations.

Flash floods also have caused cut off of road access. The community, especially students in Panunggangan Village, Karangpawitan, Garut Regency, were forced to take a rubber boat to get to school. This is because the Rawyan bridge that they used to cross was broken by the flash flood last weekend.

This bridge is the heart of residents in two sub-districts, namely Banyuresmi and Karangpawitan. Without this bridge, children go to school using motorbike taxi at a cost of IDR 60,000 to go home. While the economic condition of the residents is middle to lower.

Seeing these conditions, the Volunteer team immediately rushed to provide boats and buoys for students to cross the river, because they have entered school again.
Initiator Friends, Let’s pray that the survivors of the flash flood in Garut will be given fortitude and patience in facing the natural disaster, including the #AnakTangguh and #GenerasiHebat who keep on fighting to going to school despite the damaged condition of bridge access.

Initiator Friends, we can also help those affected by the flood by donating through Solusipeduli.org/indonesiapedulibencana. Thank you for your good initiative.

Author: Alek Durantes