Head of Data Center, Information and Public Relations of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said there are still many problems in the field, such as victims who still need to be evacuated, refugees who have not been well-handled, and the ongoing destructive aftershocks, that cause casualties.
By extending the emergency response period, there will be easy access to personnel deployment, resource use and budget, procurement of logistics and equipment, and administration.
"With the extension of the emergency response, the handling of the impact of the disaster will be faster," he explained.
According to National BNPB Chief Willem Rampangilei, the dispatch of assistance to quake victims could not yet be carried out comprehensively.
"We must acknowledge that the aid is yet to reach the victims, because we know that this catastrophe comes very suddenly," Rampangilei stated, after coordinating the handling of the Lombok earthquake handling in Tanjung, North Lombok District, on Tuesday.
He noted that one of the reasons why relief has not been able to reach all the victims is because of its sudden occurrence.
The local governments have limited resources that require them. Even so, the disaster relief process will continue to be carried out to all affected people.
"We have to make sure that logistics needs, such as sanitation, food, clean water, and others, would continue to be available," he remarked.
According to Nugroho, until the sixth day after the quake, there were still some refugees who had not been able to get help, especially in the Gangga, Kayangan, and Winner Districts, and some places in West Lombok.
"The main problem being faced in channeling assistance is the access to the damaged areas; therefore, accelerating the distribution of logistics is a priority as well as the fulfillment of the basic needs of refugees," he noted.
Nugroho explained that the urgent needs are tents, blankets, readymade meals, rice, portable toilet (bathing, washing, and toilet) facilities, drinking water, clean water, water scrub, clothing, tarpaulins, sleeping tools, lighting equipment, electricity, health services, and rehabilitation of traumatized victims.
Therefore, he added that the emergency response to the Lombok earthquake, which ended on Saturday, was extended by 14 days from Sunday (Aug 12) to Sunday (Aug 25).
"There are still many problems in handling the impact of the earthquake. Therefore, the West Nusa Tenggara Governor decided to extend the emergency response period," Sutopo said in a written message received in Jakarta on Saturday.
In order to meet the needs of the quake victims, the government is giving priority to distribution of the logistics for the affected residents.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that priority should be given to meet the needs of residents during the emergency response to the Lombok earthquake.
"The residents` needs for logistics, blankets, food, medicines, water, and electricity must be made met," Jokowi said on his twitter account @jokowi on Saturday.
After that, Jokowi noted, in his tweets uploaded at around 13:31 pm, "We focus on repairing houses of residents and public facilities."
In essence, the government will continue to follow up on the needs of the earthquake victims.
According to Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the government continued to monitor and receive information from the NTB Governor on the three important needs, namely clean water, MCK (bathing, washing, and toilet facilities), and tents.
Last Wednesday, Marshal Tjahjanto observed the quake victims at the emergency command post in North Lombok District, NTB. The TNI commander asked BNPB to immediately send in hundreds of tents, which had been made available in Lombok and Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta.
Tjahjanto said that for clean water, the military would build and repair water installations damaged by the earthquake, which struck on Sunday evening (Aug 5). It will also provide clean water supply.
The TNI has also conveyed to the National Police Chief that clean water tanks will be distributed to six quake-affected subdistricts. The TNI commander was accompanied by National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian on the occasion.
The military personnel will also build MCKs, which are badly needed by the local residents. "We will build them where residents need them," he added.
"Currently, there is a floating hospital, KRI Soeharso-990 Warship, and other public hospitals which are ready to assist victims injured in the earthquake. We have prepared all equipment to support health services for affected communities," he explained.
Basically, the TNI Commander further revealed that rescue workers would follow up on the needs of the disaster-affected communities, including those areas that are difficult to reach.
The joint Search and Rescue Team (SAR), until Friday (Aug 10), has successfully evacuated and identified 386 dead victims of the earthquake.
A total of 22,721 houses were damaged with 12,278 being lightly damaged, 723 moderately damaged, and 9,220 seriously damaged.
Edited by Bustanudin
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
