"We collaborated to distribute food supplies to our brothers and sisters affected by the flood in Pekalongan. The Central Java provincial government brought 10 tons of rice with several deliveries," Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said here on Saturday.
In addition to rice, the government provided other supplies such as cooking oil and sugar, which were donated by several business partners.
The food was distributed in three flood-affected locations in Pekalongan.
Central Java acting governor Nana Sudjana said that handling the natural disasters recorded in several areas of the province is a shared responsibility.
"Therefore, we have been coordinating (to handle this issue). Every time there is a broken embankment, it will have an impact on the community," he added.
He also appealed to all district/city governments in the region to be responsive to disasters because extreme weather conditions have made a number of areas prone to disasters.
"We must be alert, anticipate, and take immediate steps to deal with the possibility of disaster happening," he stressed.
Earlier, President Prabowo Subianto instructed the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to act quickly to handle the floods and landslides in Pekalongan district, Central Java.
"I have directly tasked the BNPB head and his personnel to move swiftly in the location," he informed at a press conference at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase, Jakarta, on Thursday.
The President asked the BNPB to coordinate with the local government and related agencies and assist them to ensure that aid is distributed quickly and on target.
He also expressed his deepest condolences for the flood and landslide disaster that resulted in several deaths.
Prolonged rainfall in several regions of Central Java from Monday to Tuesday triggered landslides and floods in several regions, including Grobogan, Demak, and Pekalongan districts.
The number of fatalities due to the landslide in Petungkriyono, Pekalongan, increased to 25 as of Saturday. The dead included a five-month-old baby. Meanwhile, one victim remained missing.
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Translator: Kutnadi, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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