Maluku Deputy Governor Barnabas Orno stated here on Thursday that the emergency response status was set by Maluku Governor through Decree Number 86 of 2023 and Tanimbar Islands District Head through Decree Number 361/10 of 2023 and is applied from January 10 to January 24, 2023.
"We have set an emergency response status to support emergency response to be carried out quickly, precisely, and efficiently," he stated.
He noted that the provincial government is intensively coordinating with the regional governments of Tanimbar Islands District and Southwest Maluku District and other regional government agencies (OPD), agencies, and disaster-related technical institutions, including the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri), to synergize joint efforts to handle emergency problems after the earthquake.
The Maluku government, on January 10, 2023, sent logistical assistance to the two districts, such as rice, evacuation equipment, family equipment, clothing, and medicines.
Assistance for earthquake-affected residents in Tanimbar Islands District was sent aboard the Sabuk Nusantara 72 Ship and arrived today. Meanwhile, assistance for those in Southwest Maluku District is expected to arrive on January 15, 2023.
Orno stated that the government will form an assistance team to directly assist the Tanimbar Islands and Southwest Maluku governments, intensify coordination and communication with ministries and agencies and city and district governments and work with the TNI and Polri during the emergency response period.
"We express gratitude for the support given by BNPB (the National Disaster Mitigation Agency) in the handling of the Maluku earthquake as well as for the ready-to-use fund (DSP) that had been disbursed and the logistical assistance from BNPB," he stated.
Orno expressed optimism that the cooperation between BNPB and the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agencies (BPBD) at the province, city, and district levels would remain solid.
"We also hope for assistance from BMKG (the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency) for future collaboration in adding seismograph sensors and to synergize in efforts to increase community resilience in facing the threat of earthquakes and tsunamis," he remarked.
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Translator: Penina Fiolana, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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