"The air force provided us with meaningful support, especially in terms of transportation," she said in Jakarta on Thursday.
The minister recalled that when she first received information about the extreme weather condition about two weeks ago, she was unable to find transportation modes for delivering aid to victims in Agandugume and Lambewi Subdistricts.
According to her, the ministry planned to send the first batch of assistance on July 23, 2023, but the process was hindered by transportation-related constraints as no planes were operating on Sundays.
Therefore, Minister Rismaharini decided to seek help from TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono.
"I called Mr. Commander for help. I informed him that the residents were starving," she said, adding that he welcomed the request and expressed his willingness to provide immediate support.
Eventually, the first batch of aid weighing six tons was delivered on the same day from the ministry's food barn in Jayapura to Timika on a cargo plane.
Furthermore, in the following days, TNI dispatched a Hercules aircraft to carry and deliver 17 tons of aid from Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport, Jakarta.
"Transporting 10 tons from here (Jakarta) to Timika was definitely not an easy task. Fortunately, the commander was willing to deploy his ranks in the air force to help us, so the aid could be delivered very quickly," the minister said.
TNI also distributed 3.6 tons of aid. Thus, a total of 26.7 tons of aid was distributed.
The minister further informed that the aid distribution was carried out in coordination with Pastor Delius Wenda, a religious leader who represents the two affected subdistricts.
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Translator: Devi Nindy, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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