The ship was dispatched by Main Naval Base VI in Makassar on behalf of the Navy.
Commandant of KAL Mamuju, Naval Major Supriadi, informed that the Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Yudo Margono, through the Commander of Main Naval Base VI, Commodore Benny Sukandari, ordered the ship to depart for Selayar Islands to deliver the humanitarian aid.
"Upon receiving the order from Admiral Yudo Margono, through Commodore Benny Sukandari, we promptly prepared the ship to deliver the aid for earthquake victims in Selayar Islands," he said in Makassar on Wednesday.
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The Selayar Islands district head and regional leaders also agreed that the President's aid must be distributed in a timely manner to disaster victims in Pasilambena sub-district, Kalaotoa Island, and Pasimaranu sub-district, Bonerate Island, he added.
Despite unfavorable weather in Kalatoa and Bonerate islands, the commander said that the ship's personnel persisted in making efforts to distribute the aid for islanders.
"Selayar Islands district consists of minor islands with varied sea depth, hence, we need to be very careful in reaching Kalatoa and Bonerate islands, among the outermost islands in Selayar," Supriadi explained.
The President's humanitarian aid comprised 7.5 tons of basic foods rationed into one thousand food packages, he said adding, the BNPB contributed around 2 tons of fuel for Selayar island residents.
Meanwhile, Selayar Islands district's deputy head, Saiful Arif, confirmed the regional authority promptly distributed the aid after it arrived on the islands.
"We have distributed 500 basic food packages and one ton of fuel of the President's humanitarian aid to Pasilambena and Pasimaranu sub-districts residents," Arif said.
Related news: Traumatic event of 1992 tsunami still haunts Selayar islanders: BNPB
Translator: M Hasanuddin, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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