The ministry has sent some personnel and assistance for people affected by the natural disaster in Serasan Island, acting head of public relations at the ministry, Romal Sinaga, informed here on Tuesday.
He said that both the personnel and the aid are scheduled to arrive there by Wednesday (March 8, 2023). The aid will be sent according to the available transportation means and the weather conditions, he added.
"Of course, we hope that there is no trouble throughout the process, so the personnel from the Social Affairs Ministry plus the allocated aid can arrive right on time as scheduled, so it can (be used) immediately to assist the people who have been affected by the disaster, so they can recover from the emergency situation," he said.
The ministry's aid, which is expected to arrive on March 8, includes 50 mattresses, 64 children's meals, 110 fast-fast food packages, 80 blankets, 20 packages of clothing for adults, 20 tents, 20 family kits, 10 children’s kits, and more. The total value of the aid is Rp140,377,896 (US$9,125).
He further informed that the ministry has also sent logistics aid worth Rp478.57 million (US$31,110) to Natuna on Tuesday. The aid is expected to arrive in Natuna on March 12.
"The aid will be used to handle landslide disaster in Serasan Island, Natuna district. The aid will be sent via sea using the Surabaya-Pontianak-Serasan route," Sinaga informed.
He further said that on March 8, the Social Affairs Ministry will send aid worth Rp243.412 million (US$15,823) in total to areas impacted by the landslide in Natuna.
That aid will be sent through the Pontianak-Sintete(Sambas)-Serasan route, and is estimated to arrive in Natuna on March 9.
The government has also extended psychosocial aid for the Natuna landslide victims, he affirmed.
The landslide, which hit Serasan, Natuna on Monday (March 6), has claimed at least 10 lives, left many people injured, and forced 1,216 people to evacuate. Forty people have been reported missing following the landslide.
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Translator: Devi NSR, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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