"Thank God, on the 10th day, the handling has become more well-coordinated. The obstacles and deficiencies on the first, second, and third days can be overcome," Effendy stated after attending a coordination meeting with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head, Lieutenant General Suharyanto, and Head of the National Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Penny Lukito, at the Cianjur District Hall, Wednesday.
Effendy noted that the Search and Rescue (SAR) joint team had reached the residents affected by the earthquake in isolated areas to provide assistance from the central government and other parties.
"On the first day, we could not do that. Everyone had to use helicopters, so the types of assistance were limited. Now, it is getting better," the minister remarked.
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In addition, he reminded the public, who will provide assistance to refugees, to place their donations in the main post at the Cianjur District Office Hall.
"It aims to distribute the assistance evenly. (This is) because it is mostly given to those on the side of the road. However, there are also refugees in isolated areas," he noted.
The phenomenon resulted in complaints from refugees, who did not receive fair amount of assistance.
The minister also urged residents outside Cianjur to not make the disaster location as a tourist spot.
"I beg this place not to be used as a half-tourist place. Visiting the earthquake site will cause traffic jams in the region. It will disrupt the mobilization of aid distribution," he emphasized.
Earlier, the Cianjur earthquake volunteers were annoyed at the sight of several people recording videos and taking pictures at the earthquake-affected locations. This occurred in Longkewang Village, Cugenang Sub-district, Cianjur District.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck Cianjur District at 1:21 p.m. local time on November 21. It was centered 10 kilometers (km) southwest of the district, at a depth of 10 km. It did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.
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Translator: Ajat Sudrajat, Resinta S
Editor: Suharto
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