We have, until now, dispatched aid worth Rp500 million in the form of tents and essentials, including mattresses and logistics, for those in the vulnerable group, such as pregnant mothers and children.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Social Affairs Ministry has distributed tents and logistics worth Rp500 million as humanitarian aid for the evacuees of Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta.

"We have, until now, dispatched aid worth Rp500 million in the form of tents and essentials, including mattresses and logistics, for those in the vulnerable group, such as pregnant mothers and children," Director of Social Protection for Victims of Natural Disaster of the ministry Safii Nasution noted in a statement here on Wednesday.

The humanitarian aid was distributed through the Social Affairs Office in Yogyakarta and Boyolali District in Central Java.

"We have prepared 20 tents, and we are ready to send more when we need them for the refugees," Nasution revealed.

The government has enforced strict health protocols at refugee shelters to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by preparing some rooms equipped with ozonizing device in the shelters.

The ministry has also readied 369 members of the Disaster Preparedness Team (Tagana) to help the disbursal of humanitarian aid for the refugees.

Head of the Yogyakarta Social Affairs Office Endang Patmintarsih noted that the office had worked closely with the Social Affairs Ministry as a precautionary measure against the Mt Merapi eruption.

Currently, 239 residents seeking refuge in Glagaharjo comprise elderly, pregnant mothers, and children.

Patmintarsih noted that some were in dire need of items, such as infant food, biscuits, and vitamins.

Mt Merapi's volcanic activity has intensified, and on November 5, the authority had increased its alert status to siaga (watch), or level three, of the country's four-tiered alert system, from earlier level two, waspada (advisory).

The volcanic activity has triggered avalanches of old lava cliffs.

The evacuation process continues to focus on vulnerable groups including elderly, pregnant mothers, children, and disabled persons.

Mt. Merapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. A major eruption in 2010 resulted in the deaths of 300 people and compelled nearly 400 thousand people to seek refuge.

The volcano has since then continued to rumble, spewing hot ash and volcanic material in a series of eruptions over the past decade. Related news: Mt. Merapi showing heightened activity: monitoring agency
Related news: BNPB launches emergency response efforts at Mount Merapi

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Translator: Desi Purnamawati, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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