REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The drought has hit 16 provinces, covering 102 regencies/cities and 721 districts in Indonesia until the end of July 2015. A total of 111 thousand hectares of agricultural land were also experiencing drought.

"To overcome the short-term drought, National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) prepares funds of 75 billion," said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, Head of Data Information and Public Relations of BNPB, on Saturday, August 1.

According to Sutopo, the funds were largely used to help Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in emergency response to drought with the distribution of clean water to the water tank, pipe repair, and construction of water storage tanks. Long-term treatment required a thorough effort improving environmental quality and the development of water infrastructure.

It was estimated that the drought will spread. Based on the analysis of BMKG and LAPAN, in July-November 2015 the climatic conditions in the region of Indonesia, mainly in the south of the equator was affected Moderate El Nino, even in November 2015 will likely strengthen. These conditions will give effect to the level of intensity and frequency of rainfall will decrease and even the possibility of the beginning of the rainy season on 2015/2016 in some regions will suffer a setback.

16 provinces that drought were Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Bengkulu, Papua, NTB, NTT, South Sumatra, South Sulawesi, Lampung, Riau, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and Bali. Drought was most prevalent in Central Java, Lampung, West Java, East Java, South Sumatra, and NTB.

Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara has a water deficit for a long time. During the dry season in the regions occurred water deficit of about 20 billion cubic meters. Even based on the study of Bappenas (2003), in Java, there were 92 regencies / cities which have a water deficit for 1-8 months, where 38 regencies / cities experiencing a water deficit of more than 6 months in a year.

"That is what causes drought inevitable," said Sutopo.

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