Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Pratikno told a press briefing at the Sumatra Disaster Aid Post in Jakarta that President Prabowo instructed the government to treat the catastrophe in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra as a priority requiring full national resources, including the immediate release of emergency funds and logistics.
Pratikno said all ministries and state agencies had been directed to act with heightened urgency in addressing the impact of the floods and landslides.
“The President has instructed every institution to be extra responsive and stay fully focused on rescuing survivors, distributing aid and restoring vital facilities and services,” he said, adding that the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the armed forces and the police were deploying maximum support.
At the same briefing, Pratikno emphasized that Prabowo also ordered stepped-up efforts to meet the needs of displaced and affected communities.
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“The President’s instruction is clear: all central government resources — ministries, agencies, the military and police — must ensure that every hour, every minute, the response improves,” he said.
Asked whether the directives amounted to declaring a national disaster, Pratikno said the government was treating the crisis as a national operation.
“All ministries and agencies, including the military, police and BNPB, have been ordered to deploy all available resources to handle the disaster in Sumatra. This is a full national-strength response,” he said.
During the briefing at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Pratikno led an update on the emergency operations in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
The session was attended by Cabinet Secretary Teddy, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Flash floods struck the three provinces on Tuesday, November 25. BNPB said on its website that as of November 3, the confirmed death toll had risen to 804, while 634 people remained missing as of Wednesday.
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Translator: Genta/Walda, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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