Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture will send humanitarian assistance worth Rp17 billion (around US$1.03 million) for victims of the May 2024 landslide in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

"We will provide assistance worth around Rp17 billion that we will provide in various forms," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, said at a press conference here on Monday.

He informed that so far, the number of fatalities in the landslide has been recorded at around 670. Meanwhile, 1,250 people have been forced to take refuge, he added. As for the disaster handling process, currently, it is in the rehabilitation stage.

"The incident occurred on May 28, 2024; it has been more than one month; therefore, it will affect the types of assistance that we send," he said.

According to him, the assistance is planned to be delivered on July 8, led by head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto.

"For the types of assistance, in addition to health needs, there are 5-kVA portable electric generators, solar cell lamps, cooking utensils, blankets, sleeping bags, and others," he expounded.

He affirmed that the government is continuing to coordinate with the Papua New Guinea government regarding the types of assistance.

Meanwhile, director general of public information and diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, said that the assistance will be sent to Port Moresby International Airport and will be distributed by the government of Papua New Guinea.

She noted that around two thousand victims were buried alive in the landslide. Therefore, the assistance needs to be sent without delay.

"In accordance with the direction of the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, what we send must be what is really needed (by the affected people)," she said.

Related news: Deadly landslide - Indonesia ready to deliver aid to PNG






Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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