“Today, we are receiving aid in the form of basic necessities from the Directorate General of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims of the Social Affairs Ministry, which will be handed to refugees, who are victims of the fire at Gambus Market," the Acting Mayor of Ambon, Bodewin Wattimena, informed in Ambon on Thursday.
The aid provided by the ministry includes clothes for children and adults, blankets, beds, toys, as well as fast foods, all of which would be given to the victims staying at a shelter set up for them, he said.
A resident was killed and two others injured in a massive fire that broke out at Gambus Market on Monday (May 15). The fire damaged several shops and houses in the area.
"We express our gratitude to the Social Affairs Ministry who immediately sent assistance after we informed them of the non-natural disaster that took place in Ambon," Wattimena added.
Currently, the victims are staying at a shelter erected for them in a market as living in tents amid the ongoing rainy season could pose a safety hazard for them, he informed.
"Right now, the refugees are no longer living in tents. They have been relocated to the market. I expect that the assistance which has been given can be immediately allocated to the refugees," he added.
He affirmed that the assistance will be given to 104 families comprising 219 people.
A representative from the directorate general, Delyance Can, informed that his administration promptly prepared the aid to assist the victims as soon as the report about the fire came in.
He said that the basic necessities provided by the ministry comprised 50 packs of fast food, 40 kids' meals, 200 packs of clothes for adults, 45 packs of clothes for children, undergarments for men and women, 35 educational toys, 103 beds, 50 family kits, and 206 blankets.
"We have yet to prepare school uniforms because right after we got the information, we prepared the necessary items for the refugees. We will inform our higher-ups of more items that the refugees will need at a later time," he added.
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Translator: Penina Fiolana M, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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