Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin personally coordinated the delivery after attending a national ceremony marking the 81st Anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day in Jakarta on Monday (Aug. 17).
According to a statement cited on Tuesday, the aid was transported by an A400M military transport aircraft that had taken part in the Independence Day aerial parade over Jakarta.
The aircraft carried 25 tents, 484 folding beds, 15 Starlink satellite internet kits, 700 ready-to-eat meal packages, 500 boxes of liquid milk, 10 solar cells, 35 field mosquito nets, 101 mattresses, 1,480 blankets, two reverse osmosis water purifiers, and 18 packages of medicines.
Additional assistance included instant noodles, baby food, children’s diapers, and sanitary pads.
Sjamsoeddin accompanied the delivery to NTT, bringing his aides to visit quake-hit areas and meet survivors to check their condition.
He also inspected local army bases, the 834/Wakanga Mere Infantry Battalion in Nagekeo District, calling on soldiers to provide maximum assistance to victims in evacuation efforts and recovery measures.
The minister expressed hope that his institution and the military would accelerate the post-disaster recovery process.
Multiple districts on Flores Island were shocked by the tectonic earthquake early Saturday (Aug. 17), with the epicenter located more than 30 kilometers northeast of Mbay, Nagekeo District.
The quake sent tremors through surrounding islands beyond East Nusa Tenggara, rattling communities across the region.
Indonesia promptly mobilized numerous state institutions to carry out coordinated disaster response measures and deliver tons of relief supplies, supported by more than 1,200 military personnel.
The National Agency for Disaster Countermeasures (BNPB) reported that the death toll had reached 68 as of Monday, with 213 people sustaining injuries.
Related news: Minister urges NTT task force to bolster quake response operations
Translator: W. Marison, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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