UN ready to assist relief and recovery efforts following Indonesian floods

United Nations humanitarian agencies say they are standing by to help Indonesian authorities respond to the deadly flooding that has paralyzed the capital Jakarta and surrounding areas in recent days, forcing almost 150,000 people to flee their homes.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has identified emergency food and water supplies, clothes, blankets, medicines, equipment and search-and-rescue teams that it can deploy quickly once the Indonesian Government requests help, OCHA said in a statement.

Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator Margareta Wahlström said the UN was monitoring the situation closely along with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and countries that have pledged assistance.

The UN response is likely to include the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Media reports say 29 people have been killed so far and almost 150,000 others displaced because of the floods, which have been sparked by heavy rain since last Wednesday. Further showers are expected in coming days, threatening recovery efforts in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi districts.