The provision of these basic necessity packages is a form of BIN's concern to always be at the forefront in helping people affected by disasters -- wherever and whenever.
Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA) - The Maluku Regional State Intelligence Agency (Binda) disbursed basic food assistance to residents affected by a 7.5-magnitude (M) earthquake that rattled Tanimbar Islands district early on Tuesday morning.

"The distribution of these basic food packages shows the commitment and responsibility from Maluku Provincial Binda to help the community, especially when a natural disaster occurs,” head of the agency, Brigadier General Anton Irianto Popang said here on Friday.

The fast response of the Maluku Provincial Binda in providing the aid was in accordance with the instruction of head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), General (retd.) Budi Gunawan, he added.

His party is expecting the assistance to help ease the burden on the community, especially the victims of the disaster, in meeting their daily basic needs during the disaster emergency response period.

Maluku Provincial Binda will continue to coordinate with all stakeholders, especially the Maluku provincial government, the regional government, and the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Tanimbar Islands district, in optimizing mitigation efforts and assisting the community, Popang said.

"The provision of these basic necessity packages is a form of BIN's concern to always be at the forefront in helping people affected by disasters -- wherever and whenever," he added.

According to the Maluku Provincial BPBD, one person in Tanimbar Islands district was injured in the quake.

Furthermore, 203 houses were lightly damaged and 15 were heavily damaged in the nine sub-districts of the district.

One community health center (puskesmas) and a regional hospital (RSUD) in South Tanimbar sub-district, 2 puskesmas in Nirunmas sub-district, a puskesmas in Kormomorlin sub-district, as well as a puskesmas in Molomaru sub-district were also damaged in the quake.

In addition, 8 churches in Tanimbar Islands district suffered minor damage in the disaster.

Earlier, Deputy Governor of Maluku, Barnabas Nathaniel Orno, had informed that the emergency response status had been set by the Maluku Governor through Decree Number 86 of 2023 and the head of Tanimbar Islands district through Decree Number 361/10 of 2023.

The emergency response period is in effect from January 10 to January 24, 2023.

Related news: Quake emergency response status set in Tanimbar Islands, SW Maluku
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Related news: Govt distributes aid packages for Tanimbar Islands quake victims





Translator: Winda Herman, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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