“As of today, the KKP Task Force for Sumatra Disaster Relief has distributed various types of assistance weighing 108 tons,” Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) Pung Nugroho Saksono, also known as Ipunk, said in a statement.
He explained that the total reflects a series of phased deliveries by sea and air to multiple disaster-hit locations.
In addition to food assistance, the ministry has also opened a fundraising campaign for suitable clothing, which is urgently needed by displaced residents.
“The KKP Task Force is continuing to coordinate with various parties, including the private sector, to channel assistance to disaster victims through the ministry,” Ipunk added. He also serves as commander of the task force.
He said the ministry on Saturday dispatched another vessel carrying 60 tons of aid packages to Padang in West Sumatra, Sibolga and Central Tapanuli District in North Sumatra, and Lhokseumawe in Aceh.
He noted that the Orca 05 surveillance ship, which departed from the Nizam Zachman Ocean Fisheries Port in North Jakarta on Saturday morning, is the fourth vessel deployed by the ministry to the disaster area.
Previously, the ministry sent three surveillance vessels to Lhokseumawe, Langsa, and Sibolga, as well as a patrol aircraft to reach remote areas, including Southeast Aceh District.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said the donations transported by Orca 05 came from internal contributions by ministry staff, as well as support from other ministries, agencies, and institutions.
“In addition to contributions from the ministry, we also received assistance from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, the Ministry of Tourism, influencer Atta Halilintar, and local marine and fisheries communities who voluntarily entrusted aid items for delivery,” Trenggono said.
To ensure that aid reaches those most in need, the ministry is using the Starlink network, an internet service provided by U.S.-based SpaceX, to maintain communication and receive accurate real-time updates on conditions on the ground.
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Translator: Uyu Septiyati Liman, Katriana
Editor: Primayanti
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