We pray and expect that you will always be safe and sound.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Puan Maharani disbursed the Social Security Agency (BPJS) Cards for Non-salaried Employees (TK BPU) to volunteers of the social operation for mitigating the impacts of Mount Semeru's eruption.

Maharani commended the volunteers for having assisted in mitigating the impacts of the pyroclastic flow of the volcano on the victims.

"Thank you for your struggles. You had acted quickly to help the victims since the start. In fact, you are the heroes of humanity," the minister noted in a statement received here on Monday.

Maharani handed over the cards symbolically to 100 volunteers and officers of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) at the Pronojiwo Elementary School, Lumajang District, East Java Province, on Monday.

A total of 2,500 volunteers and officers received the assistance.

According to the house speaker, the government was aware of the high levels of danger and risk that the volunteers had to deal with while aiding the mitigation of the impacts of Mount Semeru's pyroclastic flow.

"Hence, we are optimistic that the assistance would provide assurance to our volunteer colleagues. We pray and expect that you will always be safe and sound," she remarked.

Related news: Mount Semeru emits 3 km long of hot clouds avalanche

Maharani also reminded the personnel to maintain sound coordination to ensure that the operation ran smoothly.

The volunteers should continue to coordinate with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and local BPBDs to obtain the latest information on the danger assessment of each operation site, she remarked.

In addition, the speaker ensured that the House would continue to encourage related stakeholders to fulfil the volunteers’ needs and laud them suitably.

Head of the BPJS Employment Office of Jakarta Kebon Sirih Branch, Tonny WK, and Head of the East Java BPJS Employment Office, Deny Yusyulian, were other attendees at the event.

Mount Semeru erupted on December 4, 2021. The search and rescue operations had been conducted for 13 days and then closed on Thursday at 6 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB).

Related news: Recovery phase prioritized in Mount Semeru disaster handling: BNPB

Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021