The worst hit flood area I came across was a few more miles up the road, next to the Ciliwung River.
I saw an interesting blend of political opportunism and aid giving in action here. Aid posts for flood victims (Posko Banjir) are not regulated, per se, so organizations representing a rainbow of political groups advertised, essentially, with images of themselves passing out clean water & food for victims in this neighborhood who lost everything. It’s an interesting scene for a westerner like myself. Obviously- they’re helping,, and yet obviously there is political motive, so parties can say “remember who was there to help after this disaster or that”. I don’t know how effective it is, but it’s interesting to see. And the street is lined with them, side by side.

There are over 40 political groups in Indonesia. Just to name a few in action here: GOLKAR (the polital machine assembled by former President Suharto to keep him in office for 32 years, driven by patronage: political favors in exchange for votes. Vice President Kalla is from this party); PKB (National Awakening Party, with a picture of Gus Dur, Indonesia’s 3rd President & former leader of NU, the worlds largest Muslim organization, oriented around traditional values instead of strict scripturalist readings of the Koran); PBB (Stars & Moon Party, a Muslim party); NU (Nadlhatul Ulama)… there were more.