"The PPPA Ministry, along with other ministries and agencies and Child Protection Agencies, encouraged villages in the five affected sub-districts to be provided with psychosocial support services, mentoring process, and recovery for children and families to be carried out quickly," the ministry's deputy for special protection for children Nahar noted in Jakarta, Friday.
He affirmed that the five sub-districts comprised Cianjur, Cugenang, Gekbrong, Warungkondang, and Pacet.
Nahar noted that psychosocial support services were aimed at providing special protection and restoring the psychological condition of victims after the earthquake struck the region on November 21, 2022.
"This is an effort to protect children and their families from facing more severe and permanent psychological pressure or trauma," Nahar remarked.
He affirmed that the service would facilitate recovery in accordance with the needs of individuals, families, and communities after the earthquake.
"With this program, we hope those who experience psychological problems would immediately participate in social life, still be able to learn, and build good relationships with family and friends," he remarked.
On November 21, 2022, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake rattled Cianjur District, West Java, at 1:21 p.m. local time. It was centered 10 kilometers (km) southwest of the district, at a depth of 10 km, with no potential to trigger a tsunami.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) noted that as of December 1, 2022, some 329 victims died, 11 people went missing, 595 people were injured, and 59 people suffered from severe injuries and were being treated at hospitals.
The disaster also compelled 114,683 people to flee their homes, including 54,781 male refugees and 59,902 female refugees spread across 494 evacuation points.
Refugees up to 17 years of age comprised 3,027 infants up to one year of age, 9,303 toddlers aged 1-5 years, 13,818 children aged 6-12 years, 10,072 children aged 13-17, and 1,640 pregnant women.
Nahar noted that among the child refugees, 143 children had been separated from their parents.
"This condition requires attention from the health and protection sectors for the children," he added.
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Translator: Anita Permata D, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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